kelly

¹

[ kel-ee ]

noun

, Slang.

, plural kel·lies, kel·lys.

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

Kelly

²

[ kel-ee ]

noun

1. Ellsworth, 1923–2015, U.S. painter and sculptor.
2. Emmett (Leo), 1898–1979, U.S. circus clown and pantomimist.
3. Eu·gene Cur·ran [yoo-, jeen, , kur, -, uh, n, kuhr, -], 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

/ ˈkɛlɪ /

noun

1. KellyGene19121996MUSDANCE: dancerDANCE: choreographerFILMS AND TV: actorFILMS AND TV: director 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. KellyGrace19291982FUSFILMS AND TV: actress 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. KellyNed18551880MAustralianCRIME AND POLICING: horse thiefCRIME AND POLICING: cattle thiefMISC: bushranger Ned. 1855–80, Australian horse and cattle thief and bushranger, active in Victoria: captured by the police and hanged
4. game as Ned Kelly or as game as Ned Kelly
   See game 1

Word History and Origins

Origin of kelly¹

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

Example Sentences

"It was the straw that broke the camel's back," according to Denise Kelly who has studied more than 300 pages of legal documents relating to the Fab Four's demise.

From BBC

Ms Kelly, from Dawsons auctions, said the bundles must be copies made for legal teams.

From BBC

Kelly said the bundles from the bitter High Court battle showed the difficulties faced by the lawyers who represented both parties as they unravelled the complex finances.

From BBC

"Most Koreans have trauma, deep trauma, about martial law," said Kelly Kim, 53, an environmental activist.

From BBC

Last week, he became the club’s all-time touchdown leader with 245 — that’s passing, rushing and receiving — surpassing Hall of Famer Jim Kelly.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blue-green
• olive