matily

Adverb

matily (comparative more matily, superlative most matily)

1. (UK) Friendlily, like a mate.
   • “Reading?” I said. He lowered his book – one of Ma Cream's, I noticed – and flashed an upper lip at me. “Your powers of observation have not led you astray, Wooster. I am reading.” “Interesting book?” “Very. I am counting the minutes until I can resume its perusal undisturbed.” I'm pretty quick...1960, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, chapter XVI, in Jeeves in the Offing, London: Herbert Jenkins, →OCLC
   • McCormack rounded a bush and Chisholm reared up out of nowhere, a grinning scarecrow, his arm wrapped matily round the boy's shoulders, a pistol jammed against the boy's temple.2022, Liam McIlvanney, The Heretic, page 449