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Nelly vs Nell - What's the difference?

nelly | nell | Derived terms |

Nell is a derived term of nelly.



As proper nouns the difference between nelly and nell

is that nelly is a spelling variant of Nellie, a diminutive of the female given names Eleanor and Helen while Nell is a diminutive of the female given names Eleanor, Ellen and Helen.

As a noun nelly

is life.

As an adjective nelly

is unmanly, effeminate.

nelly

English

Etymology 1

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

Noun

(-) (not used in the plural)
  • (Cockney rhyming slang) Life.
  • Usage notes
    * Used principally in the phrase (not on your nelly).

    Etymology 2

    From the woman's name, Nelly

    Noun

    (nellies)
  • (derogatory, slang) An effeminate homosexual man.
  • (British, slang) A silly person.
  • A common name for the giant petrels, Macronectes giganteus'' and ''Macronectes halli
  • Hyponyms
    * (petrel) Antarctic giant petrel, northern piant petrel, southern giant fulmar, southern giant petrel

    Adjective

    (er)
  • (slang) Unmanly, effeminate.
  • nell

    English

    Proper noun

    (en proper noun)
  • A diminutive of the female given names Eleanor, Ellen and Helen.
  • * : Act i, Scene 2:
  • O Nell', sweet ' Nell , if thou does love thy lord,
    Banish the canker of ambitious thoughts;

    Derived terms

    * Nellie * Nelly English diminutives of female given names