Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
high nelly. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
high nelly, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
high nelly in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
high nelly you have here. The definition of the word
high nelly will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
high nelly, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From the high riding position and Nelly, an old-fashioned name
Noun
high nelly (plural high nellies)
- (Ireland, formerly derogatory, now nostalgic) An old-fashioned utility bicycle, especially one with a step-through frame and high handlebars providing an erect riding posture
1974 July 17, Derry Power, “Spain before it was packaged”, in The Irish Times, Dublin, page 16:
- I don't know what make of bike it was but it was certainly the motor bike version of the High Nelly push bike or the Tin Lizzy car.
1988 October 8, Deaglán de Bréadún, “The Saturday Column; Stephen Roche's slow bike from China”, in The Irish Times, Dublin, page Weekend 12:
- Chinese bikes are bigger and heavier than Western ones, they carry number plates and resemble the old "High Nellies" that are now such a rare sight on Irish roads.
1989, Hugh Fitzgerald Ryan, Reprisal: a novel, Wolfhound Press, →ISBN, page 208:there's an old bike out the back of the barracks. You're welcome to it. It's a bit of a high-nelly, and it needs new tyres, but it will get you around.
1989 Fall, Aidan Higgins, “Two from Ronda Gorge”, in Four Quarters, volume 3 , number 2, →ISSN, page 53:
- Now Julia Mahon. with two buckets of pigswill slung over the handlebars of her High Nelly, is off again to talk to her mother in St Michael's cemetery.
2014 April 1, “Philo’s old high nelly to be lovingly restored”, in Carlow Nationalist:A HIGH Nellie bike once used by Irish rock icon Phil Lynott is being lovingly restored by a group of Carlovians, who are hoping to auction it to raise funds for a local cancer support group. Philomena Lynott found her much-loved 1930s bicycle rusting away in the garden shed and decided to put it to better use.
Synonyms
Translations