nelly
See also: Nelly
English
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /nɛli/
Audio (AU): (file) - Rhymes: -ɛli
Etymology 1
Shortened from Nelly Duff, for puff, i.e. breath of life.
Noun
nelly (not used in the plural)
- (Cockney rhyming slang) A person's life.
Usage notes
- Used principally in the phrase not on your nelly.
Etymology 2
From the woman's name Nelly.
Noun
nelly (plural nellies)
- (derogatory, slang) An effeminate homosexual man.
- (British, slang) A silly person.
- A giant petrel, Macronectes giganteus and Macronectes halli.
Hyponyms
- (petrel): Antarctic giant petrel, northern giant petrel, southern giant fulmar, southern giant petrel
Translations
petrel
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Adjective
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.
Categories:
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- Rhymes:English/ɛli
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- Cockney rhyming slang
- English countable nouns
- English derogatory terms
- English slang
- British English
- English adjectives
- English terms with quotations
- en:LGBT
- en:Tubenose birds