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kelly

1 American  
[kel-ee] / ˈkɛl i /

noun

Slang.

plural

kellies, kellys

  1. a man's stiff hat, as a derby or straw skimmer.

Kelly 2 American  
[kel-ee] / ˈkɛl i /

noun

  1. Ellsworth, 1923–2015, U.S. painter and sculptor.

  2. Emmett (Leo), 1898–1979, U.S. circus clown and pantomimist.

  3. Eugene Curran Gene, 1912–96, U.S. dancer, choreographer, actor, and director.

  4. George (Edward), 1887–1974, U.S. playwright and actor.

  5. Grace Patricia Princess Grace of Monaco, 1929–82, U.S. actress: married Prince Rainier III of Monaco 1956.

  6. Walt, 1913–73, U.S. cartoonist.

  7. Also Kellie. a male or female given name.

Kelly British  
/ ˈkɛlɪ /

noun

  1. Gene, full name Eugene Curran Kelly. 1912–96, US dancer, choreographer, film actor, and director. His many films include An American in Paris (1951) and Singin' in the Rain (1952)

  2. Grace. 1929–82, US film actress. Her films included High Noon (1952) and High Society (1956). She married Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956 and died following a car crash

  3. Ned. 1855–80, Australian horse and cattle thief and bushranger, active in Victoria: captured by the police and hanged

  4. See game 1

"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

Etymology

Origin of kelly

First recorded in 1910–15; generic use of surname Kelly, taken as representative of a stage Irishman wearing such a derby

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

TV presenter Lorraine Kelly has paid tribute to her 84-year-old father after his "shock" death in East Kilbride.

From BBC

John Kelly, is understood to have been found injured outdoors on a path in his home town, near St Leonard's Square shopping centre, on Saturday morning.

From BBC

In a post on social media Kelly, 66, said her father "was in poor health but his death has still been a shock".

From BBC

Kelly has been a presenter and journalist for more than 37 years.

From BBC

“I’m old. I’ve been around,” says Clooney, currently starring in Noah Baumbach‘s “Jay Kelly,” playing a famous and, frankly, selfish actor taking stock late in life.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.