Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.]