Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

bally

[bal-ee]
adjective, adverb British Slang.
  1. damned (euphemism for bloody).
Show More

Origin of bally

First recorded in 1840–50; by alteration

Bally

[bah-lee]
noun
  1. a city in SW West Bengal, in E India, NW of Kolkata.
Show More
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for bally

Historical Examples

  • "Went to bed so bally sober I couldn't sleep," replied the misguided youth.

    Viviette

    William J. Locke

  • My dear old ass, Gilbert wrote, why grizzle and grouse at the Bally Awful!

    Changing Winds

    St. John G. Ervine

  • But all this is away from the point, which is, why grizzle and grouse at the Bally Awful.

    Changing Winds

    St. John G. Ervine

  • You know, I came out to this bally country on false pretences, as it were.

  • Yes, it's all right; but you needn't rave about it like a bally poet.

British Dictionary definitions for bally

bally1

adjective, adverb
  1. British slang a euphemism for bloody (def. 6)
Show More

bally2

noun
  1. Northern English dialect a thumb
Show More
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 bally

adj.

1885, British English, slang euphemism for bloody.

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper