Charlie

Translingual

Pronunciation

• IPA: [ˈtʃɑːli], [ˈʃɑːli]

Symbol

Charlie

1. The letter C in the ICAO spelling alphabet.

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English

Alternative forms

• Charley

Proper noun

Charlie (countable and uncountable; plural Charlies)

1. A diminutive of the male given name Charles; also used as a formal given name.
   • 1979 Charles Kuralt, Dateline America, Harcourt Brace Jovanocich, ISBN 0151239576, page 184:

     Heaven only knows why a man with a strong biblical name like James wants to be a president named Jimmy. I'm certain that if he were called Charles, he wouldn't fool around that way. Charles is not so bad, but Charlie is a terrible burden to bear.

2. A diminutive of the female given name Charlotte or Charlene, also used as a formal given name, although less common than the male name.
   • 2007 Sophie Hannah, Hurting Distance, Hodder & Stoughton, ISBN 9780340 937907, page 225:

     'Can I call you Charlotte?'

     'No. I hate the name, makes me sound like a Victorian aunt. I'm Charlie, and no, you can't call me that either.'

3. The letter C in the NATO phonetic alphabet.

Translations

diminutive of Charles or its translations in other languages

• Finnish: Kalle (fi)
• Marathi: चार्ली (mr) (cārlī) m
• Russian: Чарли (ru) (Čárli) m (indeclinable)

• Spanish: Carlito (es) m
• Swedish: Kalle (sv), Kolle (sv)

diminutive of Charlotte or Charlene or its translations in other languages

• Finnish: Karo (fi)

• Swedish: Lotta (sv), Carro (sv)

the letter "C" in a national spelling alphabet

• Estonian: Cicero (et)

• Finnish: celsius (fi)

Derived terms

• charley horse

Synonyms

• (diminutive of Charles): Chas, Chuck

Noun

Charlie (usually uncountable; plural Charlies)

1. (military slang) An enemy; the VietCong; short for Victor Charlie.
2. (uncountable, slang) Cocaine.
3. (countable, chiefly UK, slang, often with "right" and/or "proper") A fool.

   You look a right Charlie in that clown outfit! — Yes, we make a right pair of Charlies.

   Is your name Charlie? ... Well, you look like one.

   • 2009, Ruth Rendell, The Best Man To Die, page 26,

     He looked a right Charlie in those tails and striped trousers.

Synonyms

• (cocaine): snow
• (fool): See fool