Definition of GULLY

gully

Plural: gullies

Noun

  • deep ditch cut by running water (especially after a prolonged downpour)
  • A trench, ravine or narrow channel which was worn by water flow, especially on a hillside.
  • A small valley.
  • A drop kerb.
  • A road drain.
  • A fielding position on the off side about 30 degrees behind square, between the slips and point; a fielder in such a position
  • A grooved iron rail or tram plate.
  • A large knife.
  • An alleyway or side street.

Verb

Verb Forms: gullied, gullying, gullies

  • To form or erode into gullies by the action of water.
  • To flow noisily.
  • To wear away into a gully or gullies.

Examples

  • The high-scoring letters began to gully the board, creating awkward open spaces.

Origin / Etymology

Origin uncertain. Possibly from a variant of Middle English golet (“esophagus, gullet”), from Old French goulet, from Latin gula (“throat”). Shift in meaning in Middle English to "water channel, ravine" may have been influenced by Middle English gylle, gille, galle (“deep narrow valley, ravine”); see gill. Compare Dutch geul.
Alternatively, from a diminutive of dialectal gull (“fissue, chasm”) + -y (diminutive suffix). See gull, gullick.

Synonyms

box, gill

Scrabble Score: 9

gully: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
gully: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
gully: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 12

gully: valid Words With Friends Word