kelly
noun
a man's stiff hat, as a derby or straw skimmer.
kelly
1 American
[kel-ee]
/ ˈkɛl i /
noun
Slang.
-
kellies,
plural
-
kellys
plural
Kelly
2
American
[kel-ee]
/ ˈkɛl i /
noun
-
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
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
See Examples For:
“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
She had better sartorial luck for the Critics’ Choice Awards, for which she wore a kelly green jumpsuit by Christian Siriano, with a sweetheart neckline and puffy shoulders.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2019
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
The service also offers shows or channels from such personalities as Trevor Noah, Kevin Hart, Stephen A. Smith, and former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2026
Gavin Rowlands, 37, owns a property in Neath Port Talbot with his wife Kelly and said Wales would "absolutely" be hit harder due to specific rules.
From BBC ● Nov. 8, 2026
It’s a familiar teenage moment that arrives early in “Mouse,” the third collaboration from filmmaking partners Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026
This year that title was awarded to Paris Baby, who created more than her fair share of drama across the series, in particular her spats with Staffordshire queen KY Kelly.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
Mr. Kelly wandered about in a baggy pair of trousers and a bathrobe.
From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers
For catching "kellies" or "killies," bait the trap with crushed clams or salt-water mussels and for fresh water shiners use mincemeat or bread crumbs and do not spill any bait outside of the trap.
From The Boy Mechanic: Volume 1 700 Things for Boys to Do by Popular Mechanics Co.
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