noun
noogie
NUU-gee
noun
1
A playful gesture of rubbing one's knuckles roughly on someone's head, usually while holding them in a light headlock.
"His older brother gave him a noogie every time he won an argument."
verb
1
To give someone a noogie.
"She noogied her little cousin until he begged for mercy."
How to Use Noogie
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA rough but usually affectionate head-rub, often between siblings or friends.
When to use it
Informal, mostly used in casual or playful speech.
Word Forms
noogied past tense, noogies plural, noogies singular
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His older brother gave him a _____ every time he won an argument.
Etymology
Origin uncertain, possibly related to Yiddish nudzhen ("to badger") or an alteration of "nudge," similar to how "wedge" became "wedgie."