Meaning of hooley | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A surname.
   countable, uncountable
2. A noisy celebration or party; also, an evening of traditional music and dance.
   Ireland
3. A small village in Reigate and Banstead borough, Surrey, England, just outside Greater London (OS grid ref TQ2856).
   countable, uncountable
4. Chiefly in the form to blow a hooley: a strong wind; a gale.
   Scotland

Equivalents

Examples

“At a family gathering, a wake⟳ or a Christmas hooley, other children would step forward⟳ to sing⟳ a rhyme or dance⟳ a hornpipe.”

“The celebratory ceilidh at the Culag Hotel in Lochinver is still talked about. 'Oh, it was a fine evening,' one discreet woman said to me. 'A right damn wild hoolie!' a well-oiled friend enthused.”

“Indeed, our Recording Date⟳ was only yesterday and, thanks to a myriad of ongoing so-called technical 'snafus' (more media lingo – you'll get⟳ used to it!), we didn't leave⟳ the studio (get⟳ me, eh?!) until one in the morning, after which our presenters, Jiz and Liz, were in a right fouler, so we all piled back to Jane's gaff for champagne on tap and a wild sort⟳ of hoolie that had cocaine and everything, […]”

“She had always loved what she called a hooley, a gathering of family and friends, and her dying was to be her last⟳, greatest hooley.”

“It’s blowing a hooley out there.”

“The wind blew so hard during the service itself that it seemed as though the whole of Oban bay was trying to get⟳ into the cathedral. Either that or it was the Holy Spirit blowing up a hooley in celebration.”

“Bertie held mum's hand tightly as the wind was by now blowing a hoolie and Bertie did not feel⟳ very safe as he felt that he was close⟳ to being blown off his paws on more than one occasion.”

“I am arriving at the view⟳ that we have⟳ probably all been battered and bruised by being flung about the cabin as the boat heels over on its ear. We have⟳ all felt queasy (at best) when the wind and tide are battling it out in a hoolie and got cold, wet⟳ and miserable.”

“The weather was fine when we first went in but unfortunately it started blowing a ‘hoolie’ in the evening.”

CEFR level