a. (adv.). Obs. [UN-1 7, 11 b. Cf. ON. úslœg-r not sly or cunning.]
1. Of persons: Unskilful, unwise, foolish, careless.
c. 1275. Sinners Beware, 302, in O. E. Misc., 82. He gredeþ þanne heye, Þe wrecches and þe vnsleye, Þat luuede þe vnredes.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 21631. Mani o trouth es sua vn-slei, Þai tru noght bot þat þai se wit ei.
c. 1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 1938. Þarfor me thynk he es unsleghe Þat mas hym noght here redy to deghe.
1382. Wyclif, Prov. xxiii. 25. She waiteth in the weie, as a thef; and whom vnsleiȝ [1388 vnwar] she seeth, she shal slen.
c. 1425. Cast. Persev., 2781. In all hys werkis he is vnslye; mekyl of hys lyf he hath myspent.
c. 1450. Mirk’s Festial, 6. Vnsley old man, goo heþen! for I se apon þe mony meruayles.
2. Unskilfully made or done; awkward.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 1684. Þou lok þi werk be noght vnslei.
13[?]. Northern Passion, 1356 (Camb. MS. Gg. 1. 1), Als þei droth [= drew] þe tre on heie, Þe werk waxed so vnsleie.
a. 1585. Polwart, Flyting w. Montgomerie, 159. To answere thee In sermon short I am content; And sayes thy similitudes vnslie Are na wayes verie pertinent.
b. As adv. Unskilfully, awkwardly.
a. 1400. Northern Passion, 144/217 (Camb. MS. Gg. 5. 31). Þe tre … was wroght so vnsclegh Þat it was schortir þan þe make Be four fute.
