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
1
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."
2
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 notesIn 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.
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Word forms
- Plural
- nellies
- Comparative
- nellier
- Superlative
- nelliest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
"Don't be such a _____, just ask her out."
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
See all rhymes for nelly →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).
