Nellie

Or Nel·ly

[nel-ee]

noun

1. a female given name, form of Helen.

2. (often lowercase)

   1. Offensive.,  a fussily effeminate male.

   2. Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.,  a contemptuous term used to refer to a gay man.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Nellie¹

First recorded in 1930–35 Nellie for def. 2

Idioms and Phrases

see nervous nellie.

Example Sentences

The semi-saving grace is the presence of the distinctive singer-songwriter Nellie McKay, who performs some of her original compositions before, after and between the plays, accompanying herself on several instruments.

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The dwelling is also located just a short distance from Biles’ parents, Nellie and Ron, who own a gymnastics training facility in Spring, Texas, where their daughter prepared for her most recent Olympics performance at the 2024 Games in Paris.

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It includes a wordless soprano in tribute to Nellie Melba, the Australian soprano.

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And her joie de vivre was a signature in many other portrayals, including Nellie Lovett in “Sweeney Todd” and Mame Dennis in “Mame,” her breakout Broadway role in 1966.

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Weiss founded the Free Press with her wife, Nellie Bowles, who writes the humorous “TGIF” column, and with whom Weiss has 1- and 3-year-old children.

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