different between nelly vs newly

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /n?li/
• Rhymes: -?li

Etymology 1

Shortened from Nelly Duff, for puff, i.e. breath of life.

Noun

nelly (not used in the plural)

1. (Cockney rhyming slang) A person's 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.

English

Etymology

From Middle English newly, newely, neweliche, from Old English n?ewl??e (“newly”), equivalent to new +? -ly. Compare Dutch nieuwelijks, German neulich, Danish nylig, Icelandic nýlega. More at new, -ly.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?nuli/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?nju?li/
• Hyphenation: new?ly

Adverb

newly (comparative newlier or more newly, superlative newliest or most newly)

1. Very recently; in the immediate past.

Synonyms

• freshly, recently; see also Thesaurus:recently

Derived terms

• newlywed

Translations