nelly
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See also: Nelly
English[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
Shortened from Nelly Duff, for puff, i.e. breath of life.
Noun[edit]
nelly (not used in the plural)
- (Cockney rhyming slang) A person's life.
Usage notes[edit]
- Used principally in the phrase not on your nelly.
Etymology 2[edit]
From the woman's name Nelly.
Noun[edit]
nelly (plural nellies)
- (derogatory, slang) An effeminate homosexual man.
- (Britain, slang) A silly person.
- A giant petrel, Macronectes giganteus and Macronectes halli.
Hyponyms[edit]
- (petrel): Antarctic giant petrel, northern giant petrel, southern giant fulmar, southern giant petrel
Translations[edit]
petrel
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Adjective[edit]
nelly (comparative nellier, superlative nelliest)
- (slang) Unmanly; effeminate.
- 2012, Lee Lynch, The Raid:
- Some of the nelliest boys unable to get or keep a job, some of the toughest girls breaking their bodies trying to do men's work.