cully

American  

[kuhl-ee] / ˈkʌl i /

noun

• cullies
  plural

1. Archaic. a dupe.

2. Slang. fellow; companion.

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verb (used with object)

cullied, cullying

1. to trick; cheat; dupe.

cully British  

/ ˈkʌlɪ /

noun

1. slang pal; mate

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• cullies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cully

First recorded in 1655–65; perhaps shortening of cullion

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cully cullies cullied

Yet surely, although Shaftesbury was ridiculous for aiming at gallantry, from which his age and personal infirmity should have deterred him, Dryden would never have drawn the witty, artful politician, as a silly, henpecked cully.

From The Dramatic Works of John Dryden, Volume 1 With a Life of the Author by George Saintsbury

Nothing is more thrilling, thought he, than to be treated as a cully by the person you hold in the hollow of your hand.

From Zuleika Dobson, or, an Oxford love story by Sir Max Beerbohm

Call me a fool if you like, cully, but it was three or four year before I got the idee that there was anythink funny about Elbert.

From Living Alone by Stella Benson

Upon which our cully of a robber, thinking to save so much money, paid it him down, and madam seemed to be highly pleased.

From Lives of the Most Remarkable Criminals Who have been Condemned and Executed for Murder, the Highway, Housebreaking, Street Robberies, Coining or other offences by Arthur L. Hayward

An expression among impures, signifying the cully who pays, in opposition to a flash man.

From 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose

A very Rascal, Sir, and a most dangerous Fellow—he cullies in your Prentices and Cashiers to play—which ruins so many o'th' young Fry i'th' City— Sir Cau.

From The Works of Aphra Behn, Volume III by Montague Summers

There's a dozen 'r more of the cullies down-along got their notice to fade away when I got mine, and they'd jump at th' chance to get back at the bosses.

From The Honorable Senator Sage-Brush by Francis Lynde

For a change we meant to rum-pad a baronet, and I flatter myself we made as dashing a trio of cullies as any gentlemen of the heath among them all.

From A Daughter of Raasay A Tale of the '45 by Stuart Travis

Lord! with what monstrous lies and senseless shams Have we been cullied all along at Sam's!

From The History of England, from the Accession of James II — Volume 4 by Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron Macaulay