dilly

American  

[dil-ee] / ˈdɪl i /

noun

Informal.

plural

dillies

1. something or someone regarded as remarkable, unusual, etc..

   a dilly of a movie.

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dilly ¹ British  

/ ˈdɪlɪ /

noun

1. slang a person or thing that is remarkable

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dilly ² British  

/ ˈdɪlɪ /

adjective

1. slang silly

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Etymology

Origin of dilly

An Americanism first recorded in 1905–10; it was at first an adjective: “wonderful,” apparently a shortening of delicious, with -y ¹ (now taken as -y ² )

Example Sentences

Or with a dilly dipping sauce if you're fancy!

From Salon • Jul. 18, 2023

But start with a dip: dilly smoked salmon shot through with capers or spinach that’s threaded with sauerkraut and accompanied by warm pretzel rolls.

From Washington Post • Nov. 21, 2022

Bud Light's "dilly dilly" cheer that has popped up everywhere in the past year, from Super Bowl commercials to Ben Roethlisberger play calls to Vegas sportsbooks.

From Golf Digest • Apr. 4, 2018

Canned fruits, dilly beans, baskets of parsnips, brussels sprouts and russet potatoes were among the fare in a fully stocked pantry.

From New York Times • Apr. 27, 2017

“Claim they eat livestock. Kill pets, wild game. Not a whit of truth to it. I seen ’em eat dilly bugs and the like.

From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate