a. (sb.) Obs. Forms: 4 tuli, tule, tuely, twily, 4–5 tuly, 4–6 tewly, 5 toly. [app. from a place-name. The quots. from Gaw. & Gr. Knt. suggest connection with Toulouse.] An attribute of silk, tapestry, etc., of a rich red color; perh. orig. applied to such fabrics imported from Toulouse. Also absol. Any fabric described as ‘tuly.’
1321. in Legg & Hope, Ind. Ch. Ch. Canterb. (1902), 52. Casula … de rubeo sindone de tuly cum rosis brudato. Ibid., 55. Capa … de Rubeo panno de Tuly.
13[?]. Coer de L., 67. Her ropes wer of tuely sylk, Al so whyt as ony mylk.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 563. Fyrst a tule tapit, tyȝt ouer þe flet. Ibid., 858. Tapytez tyȝt to þe woȝe, of tuly & tars. [Cf. 77 A selure … Of tryed Tolouse, of Tars tapites.]
1523. Skelton, Garl. Laurel, 798. Reche me that skane of tewly sylk.
b. transf. Of a deep red color, like that of ‘tuly’ silk; absol. or as sb. the red color of this.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVI. lxxxi. (Tollem. MS.). Ofte it gendreþ semely coloure and feyre, as tewly reed and stibium.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 4335. Nouthire to toly ne to taunde transmitte we na vebbis, To vermylion ne violett ne variant littis.
14[?]. MS. Sloane 73, lf. 200. Resseit … for to make bokerbam tuly or tuly þred.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 505/2. Tuly, colowre, puniceus.
