Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (US tramp) an able-bodied, aggressive tramp or burglar.

1915		G. Bronson-Howard God’s Man 363: One day a big burly in a Tux is standing around givin’ the joint the once-over.
1927		‘Jargon of the Und.’ in DN V 441: Burly, An able-bodied tramp.
1931		Irwin Amer. Tramp and Und. Sl. 43: burly. – An active, able-bodied and aggressive tramp or yegg.

2. (also burley) a large, rough man.

1913		J. London Valley of the Moon (1914) 284: I’m all at sea, what of you two burleys breaking my husband’s arms.
1934		G. & S. Lorimer Stag Line 173: Listen, burly, what’s the big idea?