English

Proper noun

Nelly

1. A spelling variant of Nellie, a diminutive of the female given names Eleanor and Helen.
2. One of the Frazier Islands where nellies breed.

Danish

Etymology

From English Nelly.

Proper noun

Nelly

1. A female given name.

Norwegian

Etymology

From English Nelly.

Proper noun

Nelly

1. A female given name.

Swedish

Alternative forms

• Nellie

Etymology

From English Nelly. First recorded as a Swedish name in 1803.

Proper noun

Nelly

1. A female given name.

English

Noun

nelly ‎(uncountable) (not used in the plural)

1. (Cockney rhyming slang) Life.

Usage notes

• Used principally in the phrase not on your nelly.

Etymology 2

From the woman's name, Nelly

Noun

nelly ‎(plural nellies)

1. (derogatory, slang) An effeminate homosexual man.
2. (Britain, slang) A silly person.
3. A giant petrel, Macronectes giganteus and Macronectes halli.

Hyponyms

• (petrel): Antarctic giant petrel, northern giant petrel, southern giant fulmar, southern giant petrel

Translations

Adjective

nelly ‎(comparative nellier, superlative nelliest)

1. (slang) Unmanly, effeminate.