or coally, adj. (theatrical).—Among ‘pros’ a COALLY or COALING part is one that is grateful to the player. [Hotten says it means ‘profitable,’ and derives it from COLE = money, but this is doubtful.—See quot.]
1872. M. E. BRADDON, Dead-Sea Fruit, ch. xiv. The gorger’s awful COALLY on his own slumming, eh?… I mean to say that our friend the manager is rather sweet upon his own acting.
