natty

[ nat-ee ]

/ ˈnæt i /

adjective, nat·ti·er, nat·ti·est.

neatly or trimly smart in dress or appearance; spruce: a natty white uniform.

Nearby words

Origin of natty

1775–85; perhaps variant of neat¹ + -y¹

Related forms

nat·ti·ly, adverbnat·ti·ness, nounnon·nat·ti·ly, adverbnon·nat·ti·ly·ness, noun

non·nat·ty, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for nattily

There was Akbar, a nattily dressed African-American who talks through an underbite.
The Weirdest Story About a Conservative Obsession, a Convicted Bomber, and Taylor Swift You Have Ever Read|David Weigel|August 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And with a trendy checkered sport coat and nattily unknotted bow tie, Psy appeared the quintessential Web supernova.
Psy Brings ‘Gangnam Style’ to the United Nations & Ban Ki-moon|Kevin Fallon|October 25, 2012|DAILY BEAST
A bright fire was burning, and everything seemed to be arranged so carefully and nattily.
The Manxman|Hall Caine
They were nattily dressed and each carried a small valise, and they were buying caps and some other things for a sea voyage.
Dave Porter on Cave Island|Edward Stratemeyer

Mr. Sharpe was as nattily dressed as ever, and presented himself as pleasantly as a summer breeze across fields of clover.
The Making of Bobby Burnit|George Randolph Chester
Instead they traveled beyond the nattily clad yachtsmen and rested on the slim figure of the paid hand.
The Boy Aviators' Flight for a Fortune|Wilbur Lawton
These younger men were nattily though plainly attired in corduroy, with leggings and caps.
Uncle Sam's Boys as Sergeants|H. Irving Hancock

British Dictionary definitions for nattily

natty

/ (ˈnætɪ) /

adjective -tier or -tiest

informal smart in appearance or dress; spruce; dappera natty outfit

Derived Formsnattily, adverbnattiness, noun

Word Origin for natty

C18: perhaps from obsolete netty, from net neat 1; compare Old French net trim

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for nattily

natty

adj.

1785, "neat, smart," originally slang, perhaps an altered form of 16c. nettie "neat, natty," from Middle English net "pure, fine, elegant" (see neat). Related: Nattily.