Etymology

Gayn (adj.) + -ly suffix.

PGmc Ancestor

*gagni-

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

gegn ‘straight, direct, ready, serviceable, kindly’
(ONP gegn (2) (adj.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

Icel gegn, Norw gjegn, ODan gjen, Dan dial gjen, Sw dial gen

OE Cognate

gēn ‘direct, short’

Phonological and morphological markers

absence of palatalization of */ɡ/

Summary category

A1*bc

Attestation

Forms with -ly suffix in ME are only cited by MED and OED from Cl, Pa and c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch) in ME, but also occur in Sc. dial in MnE (OED, EDD), and see further gayn (adj.).

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

Cl 728; Pat 83

Bibliography

MED geinlī (adj.) , OED gainly (adj.) , HTOED , EDD gainly (adv. and adj.); see further gayn (adj.).