adjective
burly
BUR-lee/ˈbɜːrli/
Large, strong, and heavily built.
The burly worker carries a bulky wooden crate.
Etymology
Middle English borlich expressed excellence, nobility, or handsome appearance. Its meaning shifted through “stout, sturdy” to the modern description of someone large, strong, and heavily built.
In context
liwosh's burly body as strong as an ox fell straight to the ground
More examples
- The burly dog pushed easily through the loose gate.
- His burly frame filled the narrow doorway.
- Two burly guards stood near the entrance.
Forms
burly · burlier · burliest
Similar words
- brawny
- Brawny emphasizes muscular strength; burly also suggests a large, heavy build.
- stocky
- Stocky is broad and compact; burly usually implies a bigger, powerful frame.