kelly

¹ American  

[kel-ee] / ˈkɛl i /

noun

Slang.

plural

kellies, kellys

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

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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.

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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

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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

When Kelly was in her early 30s, she joined her local group in London.

From BBC

She thinks the woman "wanted to be the one who was outgoing" and might not have been too happy about Kelly's habit of making the other women laugh.

From BBC

After Kelly moved back to her hometown and had two more children, she didn't bother joining any new groups.

From BBC

Clinton Kelly and Stacy London return as its hosts, older, wiser and atoning for the tough love and scathing real talk they once doled out to style-challenged guests.

From Salon

The premise of the new show is that Kelly and London spend time with their guests, find out how they want to dress and steer them toward the most flattering versions of that — it’s judgment, but less, you know, judgmental.

From Salon

Related Words

• blue-green
• olive