nelly

See also: Nelly

English

Pronunciation
  • (UK) IPA(key): /nɛli/
  • Audio (AU)(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɛli

Etymology 1

Shortened from Nelly Duff, for puff, i.e. breath of life.

Noun

nelly (plural nellies)

  1. (Cockney rhyming slang) A person's life.
Usage notes

Etymology 2

From the woman's name Nelly.

Noun

nelly (plural nellies)

  1. (derogatory, slang) An effeminate homosexual man. [1]
  2. (Britain, slang) A silly person.
  3. A giant petrel, Macronectes giganteus and Macronectes halli.
Hyponyms
  • (petrel): Antarctic giant petrel, northern giant petrel, southern giant fulmar, southern giant petrel
Translations

Adjective

nelly (comparative nellier, superlative nelliest)

  1. (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.

References
  1. Reuben, David R. (1969), chapter 8, in Everything you always wanted to know about sex but were too afraid to ask, New York: David McKay Company, Inc., published 1970, →LCCN, Homosexuals have their own language?, page 146: “NELLY: effeminate homosexual”
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