Characteristic to, resembling, or relating to a giant or giants; giantlike.
What meanes this deuiliſh ſhepheard to aſpire With ſuch a giantly preſumption. To caſt vp hils againſt the face of heauen: And dare the force of angry Iupiter.c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene vi:
Ten of the twelve sent to spie out the land, by speaking ill of the country, and the barrennesse thereof, and withall, magnifying the cities for their strength, and the giantly stature of the men therein; disheartened the people from marching any further towards it.1658, James Ussher, The Annals of the World:
2 more examples
Hard by was a formidable race of savages inhabiting the gentle region watered by the Susquehanna, of whom the following mention is made by Master Hariot in his excellent history: – "The Susquesahanocks are a giantly people, strange in proportion, behaviour, and attire – [...]1850, Diedrich Knickerbocker, A history of New-York – Page 241:
There may be a giant sea-liner feeling its way down to the sea and it would be a very awkward obstruction, even for the giantliest of giant air liners.1937, Aeroplane and commercial aviation news – Page 96
giantly
adv
Etymology From giant + -ly. Compare giantlike.
1
In a giant or gigantic manner; gigantically; enormously; immensely.
Lexa dropped her book. “Okay, that was giantly huge!”2012, Braden Bell, The Kindling: Middle School Magic – Page 5:
Why should I keep on playing a game that was so giantly stupid, named after people dead a million years, during which I was obliged to do giantly boring things like hold the end of the sheet while my sister wrap-twirled into a mummy?2012, Leni Zumas, The Listeners – Page 200: