# gully

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɡʌli/ · frequency rank #25,079

## Definitions
1. A trench, ravine or narrow channel which was worn by water flow, especially on a hillside.
2. A small valley.
3. A drop kerb.
4. A road drain.
5. A fielding position on the off side about 30 degrees behind square, between the slips and point; a fielder in such a position
6. A grooved iron rail or tram plate.

## Etymology
Origin uncertain. Possibly from a variant of Middle English golet (“esophagus, gullet”), from Old French goulet, from Latin gula (“throat”). Shift in meaning in Middle English to "water channel, ravine" may have been influenced by Middle English gylle, gille, galle (“deep narrow valley, ravine”); see gill. Compare Dutch geul.
Alternatively, from a diminutive of dialectal gull (“fissue, chasm”) + -y (diminutive suffix). See gull, gullick.

## Easily confused with
- **guy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gully-vs-guy)
- **gulp** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gully-vs-gulp)
- **gurl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gully-vs-gurl)
- **gummy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gully-vs-gummy)
- **gutsy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gully-vs-gutsy)
- **gusty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gully-vs-gusty)
- **gul** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gul-vs-gully)
- **gulf** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gulf-vs-gully)
- **gill** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gill-vs-gully)
- **gall** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gall-vs-gully)
- **gull** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gull-vs-gully)
- **guilt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/guilt-vs-gully)
- **guild** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/guild-vs-gully)
- **godly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/godly-vs-gully)
- **girly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/girly-vs-gully)
- **gills** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gills-vs-gully)
- **Gallo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gallo-vs-gully)
- **gulls** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gulls-vs-gully)
- **gulag** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gulag-vs-gully)
- **gulch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gulch-vs-gully)

## Common misspellings (4)
`ggully`, `gluly`, `gullyy`, `gulyl`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/gully