burly

[ bur-lee ]
/ ˈbɜr li /

adjective, bur·li·er, bur·li·est.

large in bodily size; stout; sturdy.
bluff; brusque.

Origin of burly

1250–1300; Middle English borli, burli, Old English borlīce (adv.) excellently, equivalent to bor(a) ruler + -līce -ly

OTHER WORDS FROM burly

bur·li·ly, adverb bur·li·ness, noun un·bur·ly, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for burly

British Dictionary definitions for burly

burly
/ (ˈbɜːlɪ) /

adjective -lier or -liest

large and thick of build; sturdy; stout

Derived forms of burly

burliness, noun

Word Origin for burly

C13: of Germanic origin; compare Old High German burlīh lofty