— surlily , adv. — surliness , n.
/serr"lee/ , adj., surlier, surliest .
1. churlishly rude or bad-tempered: a surly waiter.
2. unfriendly or hostile; menacingly irritable: a surly old lion.
3. dark or dismal; menacing; threatening: a surly sky.
4. Obs. lordly; arrogant.
[ 1560-70; sp. var. of obs. sirly lordly, arrogant, equiv. to SIR + -LY ]
Syn. 1. sullen, irascible, cross, grumpy. See glum .