a.; also 4–6 asshy, 5 asky, 6–7 ashie, assie, 7 ashey. [f. ASH sb.2 + -Y1.]
1. Consisting of ashes.
1483. Cath. Angl., 16. Asky, cinerulentus, cinereus.
1591. Spenser, Ruins of Rome, 1. Whose ashie cinders lie Vnder deep ruins.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1703. Like that self-begott’n bird … From out her ashie womb now teem’d, Revives, reflourishes.
1718. Pope, Iliad, XXIII. 312. And deep subsides the ashy heap below.
1869. Phillips, Vesuv., ii. 35. One continuous ashy shower.
2. Covered or sprinkled with ashes.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 2025. With flotery berd, and ruggy asshy heeres.
1852. Dickens, Bleak Ho., iv. She slumbered before the ashy grate.
3. Ash-colored, ashen, deadly pale.
1541. R. Copland, Quest. Cyrurg., R j. Whyte vryne, thynne, and asshy.
1597. Lowe, Art Chyrurg. (1634), 116. The sore is … pale, sandy or assie coloured.
1633. Ford, Love’s Sacr., IV. i. The ashey paleness of my cheek Is scarletted in ruddy flakes of wrath.
1830. T. Hamilton, Cyr. Thornton (1845), 17. The ashy cheek, and hollow eye of my mother.
b. quasi-adv. in comb., as ashy-blond, -green, -pale.
1592. Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 76. He low’rs and frets, ’Twixt crimson shame and anger, ashy-pale!
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., IV. II. ii. 38. Eyebrows … you can see are ashy-blond.
