headly
adjEtymology From Middle English hedly, havedlich, from Old English hēafodlīċ (“at the top, principal, capital, deadly”), equivalent to head + -ly. Cognate with West Frisian haadlik, Dutch hoofdelijk, Middle Low German hö̂vetlī̂k, Middle High German houbetlich (archaic German hauptlich). Piecewise doublet of chefly and chiefly.
1
Archaic Chief; principal; capital; (of sins) deadly.
- O'er blows the filthy and contagious clouds / Of headly murther, spoil, and villainy.1623, Shakespeare, King Henry V.:
2
Archaic Heady; violent; impetuous.