cully: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowArchaic/Slang
Quick answer
What does “cully” mean?
A close male friend, companion, or partner, often with connotations of comradery or trickery.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A close male friend, companion, or partner, often with connotations of comradery or trickery.
Historically used to mean a dupe or someone easily tricked; a partner in crime; slang for a man or fellow.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More likely found in older British literature or historical contexts. In American English, it is virtually extinct outside of historical fiction or academic study.
Connotations
In UK historical contexts, can imply a working-class companion or a rogue's partner. In US contexts, if used, it sounds deliberately antique or borrowed from UK sources.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both varieties, marginally more attested in historical British texts.
Grammar
How to Use “cully” in a Sentence
He was my old cully.They took him for a cully.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cully” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The thief and his cully were apprehended near the docks.
- He's been my old cully since our schooldays.
American English
- In the novel, the cowboy found a loyal cully in his travels.
- The con artist always needed a gullible cully.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical or literary analysis.
Everyday
Not used in contemporary speech.
Technical
Not applicable.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cully”
- Using it in modern contexts unironically.
- Assuming it is a common synonym for 'friend'.
- Spelling as 'cullie' or 'culley'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered archaic or highly specialised slang. You will almost never hear it in contemporary spoken or written English.
Historically, it was almost exclusively used for males. Using it for a female would be highly unconventional and not attested in standard sources.
A 'cully' often carries a stronger implication of partnership, especially in a specific venture (which could be illicit), whereas 'friend' is a general, neutral term.
No. It is strictly a word for passive recognition, useful only when reading older literature or studying historical linguistics.
A close male friend, companion, or partner, often with connotations of comradery or trickery.
Cully is usually archaic/slang in register.
Cully: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkʌli/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkʌli/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None in common modern use.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'cunning' friend you might 'cull' (select) for a shady job — your 'cully'.
Conceptual Metaphor
FRIENDSHIP IS A PARTNERSHIP (often illicit).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'cully' most likely be found?