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ballsy

[ bawl-zee ]
/ ˈbɔl zi /
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adjective, balls·i·er, balls·i·est. Slang: Vulgar.

boldly aggressive or courageous: a ballsy gal who isn't afraid of anyone.

RELATED WORDS

saucy, brash, bold, assured, brassy, brave, cheeky, cocky, confident, courageous, daring, dashing, dauntless, gallant, game, gritty, gutsy, heroic, nervy, plucky

Nearby words

  1. ballroom,
  2. ballroom dance,
  3. ballroom dancing,
  4. balls,
  5. balls-up,
  6. ballup,
  7. ballwin,
  8. bally,
  9. ballyhoo,
  10. ballymena

Origin of ballsy

1955–60; balls (in the sense “boldness, courage, brashness”) + -y1; cf. -sy
Related formsballs·i·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ballsy

British Dictionary definitions for ballsy

ballsy

/ (ˈbɔːlzɪ) /

adjective

slang courageous and spirited

Word Origin for ballsy

C20: from balls meaning courage, forcefulness
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for ballsy

ballsy

adj.

"courageous, masculine," 1959, first attested in Norman Mailer (writing of Truman Capote); see balls + -y (2).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper