middy

¹ American  

[mid-ee] / ˈmɪd i /

noun

middies plural

1. Informal. a midshipman.

2. middy blouse.

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middy ² American  

[mid-ee] / ˈmɪd i /

noun

Australian Slang.

middies plural

1. a medium-size drinking glass commonly holding half a pint and used for beer.

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middy British  

/ ˈmɪdɪ /

noun

1. informal See midshipman

2. See middy blouse

3. a middle-sized glass of beer

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• middies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of middy¹

First recorded in 1825–35; mid(shipman) + -y ²

Origin of middy²

First recorded in 1940–45; mid ¹ + -y ²

Example Sentences

She and her friends walk to school in pleated skirts and middy sailor blouses.

From New York Times • Feb. 9, 2021

A middy is a half-pint in some states Down Under, although also known as a pot.

From BBC • Jan. 7, 2011

In time their bustles gave way to hobble skirts; middy blouses came & went.

From Time Magazine Archive

Iowa's 4-H girls got new uniforms�blue-green zipper dresses with short balloon sleeves�to replace their antiquated, long-sleeved, blue middy outfits.

From Time Magazine Archive

So on Friday I put on my middy blouse which, more than any of my clothes, made me feel like a Marjorie, and my mother called for rickshas.

From "Homesick" by Jean Fritz

Related Words

• boater
• cadet
• diver
• marine
• pilot