adv. Sc. (and north. dial.) [f. CANNY a. + -LY2.] Sagaciously, skilfully, prudently; cautiously, slily; gently, softly; comfortably, etc. (see various senses of CANNY).

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1636.  Rutherford, Lett., lxix. (1862), I. 178. Those who can take that crabbed tree handsomely upon their back and fasten it on cannily, shall find it such a burden as wings to a bird.

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a. 1662.  Baillie, Lett. (1775), I. 147 (Jam.). He has … carried himself far more cannily than any of that side.

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a. 1758.  Ramsay, Poems (1800), II. 386. Steering cannily thro’ life.

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1816.  Scott, Antiq., xxvii. Step lightly and cannily. Ibid., Bl. Dwarf, vii. But they say they can whiles get folk cannily away to the plantations from some of the outports

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1839.  Cumbrld. & Westm. Dialog., 18. Sae we dud varra connoly.

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1866.  Kingsley, Herew., I. xv. 294. I told my story as cannily as I could.

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