poorly - From Ulster to America
Source: From Ulster to America: The Scotch-Irish Heritage of American English
Author: Michael Montgomery
Comments: From Ulster to America recounts the lasting impact eighteenth-century settlers from Ulster have made on the development of the English language of the United States. The book documents over 500 vocabulary items contributed to American English by these ‘Scotch-Irish’ settlers. Each ‘shared’ term with its meaning is authenticated by quotations from both sides of the Atlantic. This searchable online version of his book takes its text from the dictionary part of the second edition published by the Ullans Press in 2017.
poorly predicate adj In poor health, unwell. [oed poorly adj/adv ‘in a poor state of health, somewhat ill, unwell, indisposed’ chiefly colloquial; dare poorly adj ‘ill; weak; depressed’ chiefly South, South Midland]
Ulst.:
1893 Bullock Awkward Squad 48 Father’s poorly, an’ the childer have a power o’ coulds.
1919 MacGill Glenmornan 228 Maura was out, having gone to see Breed Dermot, who was still poorly.
1933 MacNeill Reverence Listens 50 The next mornin’, though he pushed out, he was ter’ble poorly, I could see.
1993 Montgomery Barnish 40 = sick.
U.S.:
1815 Humphreys Yankey in England 107 = miserable, ill.
1871 (in 1983 Heap Bucks Co Word List 46) Uncle is very poorly … is doctoring with Rowland in Jersey.
1930 Shoemaker 1300 Penn Words 47 = failing in health, ‘going down hill’.
1959 Pearsall Little Smoky 88 He must provide for his family, but on days he feels ‘too poorly’ to work no one is likely to press him.
1974 Fink Bits Mt Speech 20 I’m feeling purty poorly.
Purchase From Ulster to America
The second, revised edition of Michael Montgomery’s From Ulster to America is now available here:
From Ulster to America: The Scotch-Irish Heritage of American English (Europe)
From Ulster to America: The Scotch-Irish Heritage of American English (North America)
