int. Obs. Also lullay, lully. [Onomatopæic: see LULL v.1] = LULLABY.
c. 1450[?]. in Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.), Notes 414. Lully, lulla, thow littell tine child; By, by, lully, lullay, thow littell tyne child. Ibid. (c. 1450), 137. ‘Fayr chylde, lullay,’ sone must she syng.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., xiii. 442, 445. Sing lullay thou shall, for I must grone, And cry outt by the wall on mary and Iohn,… Sing lullay on fast When thou heris at the last.
c. 1485. Digby Myst. (1882), IV. 719. I sange lullay to bringe you on slepe.
a. 1500. Songs & Carols (Percy Soc.), 12. And ever among A mayden song Lullay, by by, lullay. [Other verses simply by by, lullay.] Ibid., 19. Lullay, my chyld, and slepe.
1590. [see next].
c. 1600. Mother’s Lullaby, in Ritson, Anc. Songs (1792), 198. My little sweete derlinge, my comfort and ioye Singe Lullyby Lully…. Singe Lully Lully Lully, Sweete baby, Lully Lully, sweete baby, Lully Lully.
a. 1764. [see next, sense 1].
