Parlous \Par"lous\, a. [For perlous, a contr. fr. perilous.] [1913 Webster] 1. Attended with peril; dangerous; as, a parlous cough. [Archaic] "A parlous snuffing." --Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster] 2. Venturesome; bold; mischievous; keen. [Obs.] "A parlous boy." --Shak. "A parlous wit." --Dryden. -- {Par"lous*ly}, adv. [Obs.] -- {Par"lous*ness}, n. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]