ballsy

[bawl-zee]

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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.

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

Related Words for ballsy

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

Examples from the Web for ballsy

Contemporary Examples of ballsy

Honor called the move “ballsy” and his friend shot back, “Cerebral ballsy!”
Craziest SXSW Band Names: Perfect Pussy, Death By Unga Bunga, and More
Marlow Stern
March 8, 2014
Obama did exactly the right thing here, and in fact kind of a ballsy thing.
If Bush Had Said That About Egypt
Michael Tomasky
September 15, 2012
Then why, the ballsy teenager asked, are gay couples not allowed to marry?
Michele Bachmann’s Attacks on Women, From Huma Abedin to Nancy Pelosi
Caitlin Dickson
July 20, 2012
The next time you are downward dogging, give a thought to that ballsy broad from the Ukraine.
Dead Cool: Madame Blavatsky
Simon Doonan
January 6, 2010
It was ballsy of him to reinforce his determination to overhaul healthcare.
Give Him a Break
Tina Brown
February 25, 2009

British Dictionary definitions for ballsy

ballsy

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

adj.

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