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Webster 1913 Edition


Dooly

Doo′ly

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Doolies
(#)
.
[Skr.
dōla
.]
A kind of litter suspended from men’s shoulders, for carrying persons or things; a palanquin.
[Written also
doolee
and
doolie
.]
[East Indies]
Having provided
doolies
, or little bamboo chairs slung on four men's shoulders, in which I put my papers and boxes, we next morning commenced the ascent.
J. D. Hooker.

Definition 2024


dooly

dooly

English

Noun

dooly (plural doolies)

  1. (archaic) A kind of litter suspended from men's shoulders, for carrying persons or things; a palanquin.
    • 1882, F. Marion Crawford, Mr. Isaacs:
      He said I should not be able to ride much farther, as the pass beyond Sultanpoor was utterly impracticable for horses; coolies, however, awaited me with a dooly, one of those low litters slung on a bamboo, in which you may travel swiftly and without effort, but to the destruction of the digestive organs.
    • (Can we date this quote?), W.H.G. Kingston, Our Soldiers:
      He also, in conjunction with Private John Ryan, rushed into the street under a heavy fire, and took Captain Arnold, 1st Madras Fusiliers, out of a dooly, and brought him into the house, that officer being again hit while they were so doing.
    • 1840, T.W.E. Holdsworth, Campaign of the Indus:
      I thought at first I was as good as done for; however, on regaining a little strength, I looked around, and seeing none of our men in the place, and thinking it more than probable, from what I knew of their character, that the very men whom I had been endeavouring to save might take it into their heads to give me the "coup de grace" now I was left alone, I made a desperate effort, got on my legs, and managed to hobble out, when I soon found some of our men, who supported me until a dooly could be brought, into which I was placed, and was soon on my way to the doctor.

References

  • dooly in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913