gally

verb

gal·​ly ˈga-lē 

gallied; gallying

transitive verb

chiefly dialectal

: frighten, terrify

Word History

Etymology

of obscure origin

Note: A supposed connection of this word with a verb gallow, occurring once in King Lear (III.ii) and taken to mean "frighten," is very tenuous given the lack of any other evidence for such a word. Still more tenuous is a connection with the Old English word āgǣlwan "to frighten" (attested only as a past participle agælwed).

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined above