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kelly

1 American  
[kel-ee] / ˈkɛl i /

noun

Slang.

plural

kellies, kellys

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

Kelly 2 American  
[kel-ee] / ˈkɛl i /

noun

  1. Ellsworth, 1923–2015, U.S. painter and sculptor.

  2. Emmett (Leo), 1898–1979, U.S. circus clown and pantomimist.

  3. Eugene Curran 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 British  
/ ˈkɛlɪ /

noun

  1. 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. 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. Ned. 1855–80, Australian horse and cattle thief and bushranger, active in Victoria: captured by the police and hanged

  4. See game 1

"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

Etymology

Origin of kelly

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

His daughter, Kelly, told the BBC the family were grateful to people in the city for their support.

From BBC

Both Kelly and Sharon Osbourne said having the tribute to Ozzy was "an honour".

From BBC

"It's so special," Kelly said.

From BBC

"We couldn't have got through this time without the support we received and we are forever in debt," Kelly added.

From BBC

“One of the challenges is you can deplete these really quickly,” said Kelly Grieco, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center think tank who used to teach at the Air Command and Staff College.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.