† theftlyadv.
Scottish and northern dialect. Obsolete.
By stealth, furtively.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > [adverb]
softlyc1225
by stalea1240
privilya1250
slylyc1275
thieflyc1290
stealingly13..
by stealth1390
stalworthlya1400
theftfullyc1400
theftlyc1400
theftuouslyc1400
under veilc1425
thievishly?c1450
by theft1488
quietly1488
furtively1490
by surreption1526
hugger-muggera1529
in hugger-mugger1529
underhand1538
insidiously1545
creepingly1548
surreptiously1573
underboard1582
filchingly1583
sneakingly1598
underwater1600
slipperily1603
thief-likea1625
clandestinely1632
surreptitiously1643
thievously1658
clancularly1699
stownlins1786
stealthily1806
underhandedly1806
stolen-wise1813
on (upon, under, or by) the sly1818
round-the-corner1820
underhanded1823
stealthfully1828
slinkingly1830
slippingly1830
on the sneak?1863
sneakishly1867
behind backs1874
stalkingly1891
on the side1893
under the counter1926
underground1935
under the table1938
down and dirty1959
sneakily1966
c1400 Sc. Trojan War ii. 271 He gyffande thiftely ws till The palladinar at our will.
c1400 Sc. Trojan War ii. 623 Bycause þe palladinar was Out of þe temple tone thyftly.
a1485 Promptorium Parvulorum (MS. S) Stelyngly (theftely), ffurtiue, latrocinaliter.
1498 in M. Livingstone Reg. Secreti Sigilli Regum Scotorum (1908) I. 23/1 ix catell thiftly tane fra Thomas Sowtar.
1515 in W. H. Stevenson Rec. Borough Nottingham (1885) III. 343 Reyseyvng off oder menys goodes theyftely.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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adv.c1400