kelly
noun
a man's stiff hat, as a derby or straw skimmer.
kelly
1 American
[kel-ee]
/ ˈkɛl i /
noun
Slang.
plural
kellies, kellys
Kelly
2
American
[kel-ee]
/ ˈkɛl i /
noun
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Ellsworth, 1923–2015, U.S. painter and sculptor.
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Emmett (Leo), 1898–1979, U.S. circus clown and pantomimist.
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Eugene Curran Gene, 1912–96, U.S. dancer, choreographer, actor, and director.
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George (Edward), 1887–1974, U.S. playwright and actor.
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Grace Patricia Princess Grace of Monaco, 1929–82, U.S. actress: married Prince Rainier III of Monaco 1956.
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Walt, 1913–73, U.S. cartoonist.
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Also Kellie. a male or female given name.
Kelly
British
/ ˈkɛlɪ /
noun
-
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)
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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
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Ned. 1855–80, Australian horse and cattle thief and bushranger, active in Victoria: captured by the police and hanged
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See game 1
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.
“Hard to be brilliant if you are worrying if you look fat or why another woman hates you or why you don’t own a kelly bag,” he wrote.
From Salon • Feb. 24, 2026
The Eagles will wear their throwback kelly green jerseys for the second time this season.
From Washington Times • Nov. 24, 2023
With the A’s wearing kelly green jerseys for a rare road game, he allowed three runs, struck out seven and walked one.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 18, 2021
I even made it with a bag of “Ugly Greens” castaways from a local supplier and they bloomed to a gorgeous bright kelly green in the hot broth—just the makeover they needed.
From Slate • Aug. 17, 2018
Forest and pine and kelly and grass, all flowing together like a green ocean.
From "Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World" by Ashley Herring Blake
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.
