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