kelly

¹

[ kel-ee ]

noun

, Slang.

, plural kel·lies, kel·lys.

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

Kelly

²

[ kel-ee ]

noun

1. Ellsworth, 1923–2015, U.S. painter and sculptor.
2. Emmett (Leo), 1898–1979, U.S. circus clown and pantomimist.
3. Eu·gene Cur·ran [yoo-, jeen, , kur, -, uh, n, kuhr, -], 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.

Kelly

/ ˈkɛlɪ /

noun

1. KellyGene19121996MUSDANCE: dancerDANCE: choreographerFILMS AND TV: actorFILMS AND TV: director 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. KellyGrace19291982FUSFILMS AND TV: actress 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. KellyNed18551880MAustralianCRIME AND POLICING: horse thiefCRIME AND POLICING: cattle thiefMISC: bushranger Ned. 1855–80, Australian horse and cattle thief and bushranger, active in Victoria: captured by the police and hanged
4. game as Ned Kelly or as game as Ned Kelly
   See game 1

Word History and Origins

Origin of kelly¹

First recorded in 1910–15; generic use of surname Kelly, taken as representative of a stage Irishman wearing such a derby

Example Sentences

Kelly said she was locked out for over a week from teaching her students remotely, until the district reversed course and approved her accommodation.

From Washington Post

Reich led the Bills to another victory the following week, but Kelly returned for the AFC championship game and Super Bowl.

From Washington Post

“The shape and color of the tissue that’s preserved suggests that these animals might have used both odor and visual signals to interact with other members of their species,” Kelly said in an email.

From Popular-Science

The scenario describes Megyn Kelly’s departure from Fox in 2017 and her subsequent flameout at NBC.

From Washington Post

Pitching advertisers on a campaign that can be run across a portfolio of sites — and tailored to each context, as needed — “makes a more compelling story back to the advertiser,” said Kelly.

From Digiday

He stood holding his 21-month-old son, Jamison, his wife, Kelly, at his side.

From The Daily Beast

Iggy Azalea was born Amethyst Amelia Kelly in New South Wales.

From The Daily Beast

Thanks to CompStat and strategies added by Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, crime continued to decline.

From The Daily Beast

“Jenny Packham has proven an ideal fit for the Duchess,” Kelly said.

From The Daily Beast

So I wrote that sketch with Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider.

From The Daily Beast

Joe Kelly and a Mr. Peter Alley were fast asleep in their chairs, close to the wall.

From Project Gutenberg

Meyer had observed the danger of his officer, and had ordered Kelly to fire, blazing away too himself.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Kelly approved of this measure as far as it went, but contended for the superiority of his own more comprehensive measure.

From Project Gutenberg

I haf sent Kelly along to look after them a leetle und make them keep a goot watch.

From Project Gutenberg

Thurstane posted Kelly and one of the Mexicans on the exterior wall to watch the movements of the savage horde in the plain below.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• blue-green
• olive