willy

or wil·ley

[ wil-ee ]

/ ˈwɪl i /

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noun, plural wil·lies.

willow (def. 4).

verb (used with object), wil·lied, wil·ly·ing.

to willow (textile fibers).

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of willy

First recorded in 1825–35; special use of dialect willy, Old English wilige “basket” (originally one made of willow twigs); akin to willow

Words nearby willy

willowy, willpower, Wills, Willstätter, will to power, willy, willyard, willy-nilly, willywacks, willy wagtail, willy-willy

Other definitions for willy (2 of 3)

willy²

[ wil-ee ]

/ ˈwɪl i /

noun, plural wil·lies.Chiefly British Slang.

penis.

Origin of willy

First recorded in 1900–05; possibly from Willy

Other definitions for willy (3 of 3)

Willy

[ wil-ee ]

/ ˈwɪl i /

noun

a male given name, form of William.

a female given name.

How to use willy in a sentence

In a sense, this is a nice illustration of Napier and Willy’s point.
Seeking a Grand Theory of Injury Prevention|mmirhashem|August 13, 2021|Outside Online
These crafters of personal brands are the new Brooklyn Willy Lomans with only themselves to sell.
How to Get Laid in Brooklyn a la Adelle Waldman’s Nifty Novel of Manners|Tom LeClair|July 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The film, silent and seven minutes in length, featured cabaret star Louise Willy performing a sultry striptease.
How Hollywood’s Most Realistic Sex Scenes Were Made: ‘Don’t Look Now’ to ‘Nymphomaniac’|Marlow Stern|March 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At the climax of the play, Willy Loman ruefully tells his two sons that he was fired that day from his job.
From Katrina to the Clink: Ex New Orleans Mayor Heads to Prison|Jason Berry|February 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

As Steve Martin said on Twitter, “If you missed him as Willy Loman, you missed a Willy Loman for all time.”
Philip Seymour Hoffman: An Actor First|Tim Teeman|February 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But it was his Willy Loman that theater audiences of recent years will remember.
Philip Seymour Hoffman: An Actor First|Tim Teeman|February 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You will remember that when you came to our assistance outside Meerut she was determined to take us, willy-nilly, to Delhi.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
Little Willy Gay looked at that picture very carefully, and soon made practical use of it, as I will tell you.
The Nursery, July 1873, Vol. XIV. No. 1|Various
So much, at least, we had gained—we were no longer being carried willy-nilly out of our way.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
When Willy was two years old, he lived in a red farmhouse with a yard in front of it.
The Nursery, August 1873, Vol. XIV. No. 2|Various
One bright morning Willy's mamma put on his straw hat, and sent him out in the yard to play.
The Nursery, August 1873, Vol. XIV. No. 2|Various

British Dictionary definitions for willy

willy

/ (ˈwɪlɪ) /

noun

British informal a childish or jocular term for penis

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

willy

or wil·ley

Origin of willy

Words nearby willy

Other definitions for willy (2 of 3)

Origin of willy

Other definitions for willy (3 of 3)

Words related to willy

How to use willy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for willy