cellie

American  

[sel-ee] / ˈsɛl i /

Or celly

noun

Slang.

1. cellmate.

2. cell phone.

3. a short celebration, such as a goal celebration in competitive sports.

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Etymology

Origin of cellie

First recorded in 1965–70 cellie for def. 1; 1990–1995 cellie for def. 2; 2005–10 cellie for def. 3

Example Sentences

I entered my cell with a Kool-Aid smile, excited to show my new Dell computer to my cellie, who had been in the second cohort of the college program.

From Slate • Dec. 13, 2023

“My cellie was hiding in the back,” he said.

From Slate • Mar. 5, 2021

“You’re getting housed over in Donner,” Ehde told my cellie, sharing information he had gleaned from events of the day.

From Washington Post • Jul. 23, 2020

My cellie and I listened intently whenever a fresh set of names got called, holding our breath.

From Washington Post • Jul. 23, 2020

I had one cellie ask, only partly joking, “Do you need me to call a psych doctor for you?”

From The New Yorker • Dec. 26, 2016