broody

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English *brody, *brodi, from Old English brōdiġ (“broody”), equivalent to brood +‎ -y. Cognate with German brütig (“broody”).

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˈbɹuːdi/
  • Audio (Southern England)(file)
  • Rhymes: -uːdi

Noun[edit]

broody (plural broodies)

  1. A female bird in the condition to incubate eggs; a broody hen, duck, etc.
    There are six broodies in that coop.

Translations[edit]

Adjective[edit]

broody (comparative broodier or more broody, superlative broodiest or most broody)

  1. Of birds: sitting persistently and protectively on a nest, in order to hatch eggs.
    a broody hen
  2. Of any creature or person: showing an interest in raising young.
    • 2017 December 14, Julia Sykes, Nice and Naughty: A Christmas Collection, Julia Sykes:
      “Clayton's getting so broody. This might help put things into perspective for him. I want a family, but I need to establish my career first."
      "I'm not in a rush," Clayton countered.
      "You practically teared up at the sight of Serena's tiny socks the other day. You've got baby fever bad."
  3. Brooding, dwelling upon one's thoughts; moody.
    • 1875, Thomas Burnside Crowther, Anderida: Or, the Briton and the Saxon, A.D. CCCCXLI., page 195:
      Then, with unshorn beard and matted hair tangled with straw, his clothes smeared with slime of obscene things which are begotten of damp and darkness, his thoughts broody with wrath and revenge, Kynon was marched through the streets […]
    • 2020 March 10, Kristen Ashley, Mathlida, Superwitch Rise of the Dark Lord, Rock Chick LLC:
      He didn't even give me one of his broody looks that gave nothing away about his thoughts at all (except the fact he was broody). He gave me a look I'd never seen on him before. A remorseful one.
    • 2020 August 1, Zoë Routh, People Stuff - Beyond Personality Problems: An Advanced Handbook for Leadership, Inner Compass Australia, →ISBN:
      Peter's doubt in his own leadership grew like fungus on his thoughts. He became broody and snapped at people. He was finding himself more and more behind a closed door. He just needed a break.
    • 2022 February 25, Robert Hugh Williams, A Yooper's Tale: Death by Wendigo, Page Publishing Inc, →ISBN:
      He could be a little broody at times, especially when his thoughts were focused on school, class, a project, or hunting. That's just the way he was.
  4. Gloomy.
    • 2003 08, Sabra Morgan, The Majesty of Trees, iUniverse, →ISBN, page 104:
      Broody clouds hung low against the water. None of this bothered the jBoat sailors, whose nimble craft challenged devilish winds and currents. A pod of twenty-two footers raced and frolicked like ten-year-olds on skateboards.
    • 2011 May 11, James Herbert, Shrine: Now a Major Film Called The Unholy – the Novel Is Even More Terrifying, Pan Macmillan, →ISBN:
      The contrast between broody clouds and condensed sky was startling. Fenn stepped off the path into rough grass to get near one of the church windows and, cupping a hand between brow and glass, peered in. There was an unappealing gloom […]
    • 2014 November 11, Shé Hawke, Aquamorphia: falling for water, Interactive Publications Pty Ltd, →ISBN, page 43:
      Nature's suffering under human translation wilful damage ferments the ponds that emerge as broody clouds desperate to sprinkle liquid stardust but their warmth now annexed from holy light on a life form so disassociated from its heaven […]
    • 2019 October 12, Lesley Choyce, Broken Man on a Halifax Pier, Dundurn, →ISBN, page 160:
      As the sky darkened more, the wind was rising and there were shafts of sunlight stabbing down from the broody clouds, painting silver swords on patches of the sea. Joe cut his engine and turned his boat sideways, till he smacked up […]
    • 2020 June 9, Vannetta Chapman, Dana R. Lynn, A Perfect Amish Match and Amish Haven, Harlequin, →ISBN:
      The sky was dark and broody, which matched his thoughts perfectly. He'd simply explain to his mother that no one was willing to give him a chance, so she'd understand that he was unmatchable and he'd be able to start looking for a […]

Synonyms[edit]

  • (sitting on a nest to hatch eggs): clucky

Derived terms[edit]

Translations[edit]

See also[edit]

Further reading[edit]

  • 1854, Anne Elizabeth Baker, Glossary of Northamptonshire words and phrases: I, page 81:
    BROODY. Cloudy, dark, gloomy. "A broody sky." A.-Sax. brodig.

Anagrams[edit]

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