noun Uncommon

nelly

neh-lee

Nelly (noun) means a silly or foolish person (informal, dated). Example: “Don't be such a nelly, just ask her out.”

noun

A silly or foolish person (informal, dated).

""Don't be such a nelly, just ask her out.""

"He felt a right nelly after tripping in front of everyone."

A large seabird related to the albatross, found in the Southern Ocean (the giant petrel).

"A nelly circled the ship for hours, riding the wind without a single wingbeat."

How to use nelly

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn old-fashioned, informal word for someone acting a bit silly or overly fussy — also the name of a big Southern Hemisphere seabird.

When to use it

Very dated and regional (mainly British/Australian slang); most modern readers will only meet it in older texts or as the bird name.

Word forms

nellier comparative, nellies plural, nellies plural, nelliest superlative

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Etymology

Thought to come from the old slang phrase "nelly duff," rhyming slang for "puff," meaning breath or life — later softened into a general term for a foolish or timid person.

Rhymes for nelly

belly jelly telly Kelly smelly Shelly cruelly Connelly Donnelly underbelly squirrelly

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Frequently asked questions

What does “nelly” mean?

The word “nelly” means a silly or foolish person (informal, dated). In plain terms, an old-fashioned, informal word for someone acting a bit silly or overly fussy — also the name of a big Southern Hemisphere seabird.

How do you pronounce “nelly”?

“Nelly” is pronounced neh-lee (/nɛli/ in IPA).

How do you use “nelly” in a sentence?

Here is “nelly” used in a sentence: “"Don't be such a nelly, just ask her out.".”

What part of speech is “nelly”?

“Nelly” is a noun.

Is “nelly” a common word?

“Nelly” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “nelly” have?

“Nelly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a silly or foolish person (informal, dated).