arch. and dial. [App. a parallel form to COLLOW v., going back with it to an OE. *colʓian, whence ME. colwen, and *colȝen, *colien, the latter becoming at length colly. Cf. bellows, belly.] trans. To blacken with coal-dust or soot; to begrime.
1590. [see COLLIED].
1601. B. Jonson, Poetaster, IV. v. Nor thou hast not collied thy Face enough, stinkard.
a. 1656. Vines, Lord’s Supp. (1677), 345. A child that will colly himself with the cole that’s black and dead.
1791. Cowper, Odyss., XVIII. 34. An old hag Collied with chimney-smutch.
1861. Geo. Eliot, Silas M., xiv. ‘Not … to let him stay i’ the coal-hole more nor a minute; but it was enough to colly him all over.’
1870. Lady Verney, Lettice Lisle, 304. ‘What for are ye collying o’ me?’ says the pot to the kettle.
1879. in Shropsh. Word-bk.
1882. W. Worcestersh. Gloss., Colley, to blacken.
b. fig. To blacken in character; to darken.
1604. Shaks., Oth., II. iii. 206. Passion hauing my best iudgement collied [Qq. coold] Assaies to leade the way.
1615. Sir E. Hoby, Curry-Combe for a Coxe-Combe, i. 67. That King, whom Iabal collyeth with his sinister and causlesse doubts.
¶ ? To make black with blows; or perhaps a distinct word, variant of COIL v.2 to beat, thrash.
1601. Cornwallyes, Ess., II. xl. (1631), 172. Collied on the backe with scoffes and reproaches.
