Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Arrogant; haughty. 2. (a.) Gloomily morose; ill-natured, abrupt, and rude; severe; sour; crabbed; rough; sullen; gloomy; as, a surly groom; a surly dog; surly language; a surly look. 3. (a.) Rough; dark; tempestuous.

Multi-Version Concordance Surly (1 Occurrence) 1 Samuel 25:3 Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail; and the woman was of good understanding, and of a beautiful face: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb. (See NIV)