Library / English Dictionary

KELLY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

United States dancer who performed in many musical films (1912-1996)

Synonyms:

Eugene Curran Kelly; Gene Kelly; Kelly

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Instance hypernyms:

actor; histrion; player; role player; thespian (a theatrical performer)

choreographer (someone who creates new dances)

dancer; professional dancer; terpsichorean (a performer who dances professionally)

Sense 2

Meaning:

United States film actress who retired when she married into the royal family of Monaco (1928-1982)

Synonyms:

Grace Kelly; Grace Patricia Kelly; Kelly; Princess Grace of Monaco

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Instance hypernyms:

actress (a female actor)

Sense 3

Meaning:

United States circus clown (1898-1979)

Synonyms:

Emmett Kelly; Kelly; Weary Willie

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Instance hypernyms:

buffoon; clown; goof; goofball; merry andrew (a person who amuses others by ridiculous behavior)

Credits

 Context examples: 

In the bow was Kerfoot, Oofty-Oofty in the stern, and Kelly amidships.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

“G’wan, you Kelly. You leave Oofty alone. How in hell did he know it was you in the dark?”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

“No you don’t!” Kelly cried, stepping between me and the ladder, his right hand shaped into a veritable strangler’s clutch.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

“How’ll he know which was which?” Kelly asked, and as he went on he looked murderously about him—“unless one of us peaches.”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

“An’ ’twas me you hit, of course,” Kelly seconded, his face brightening for the moment.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Kelly subsided with some muttering, and the Kanaka flashed his white teeth in a grateful smile.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

“Now, watch me take Kelly’s right oar,” Smoke said, drawing a more careful aim.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

So that, at the end of five days, we found ourselves short but four men—Henderson, Holyoak, Williams, and Kelly,—and were once more hunting on the flanks of the herd.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

“So it was you, was it, you black beggar?” belligerently demanded one Kelly, an Irish-American and a longshoreman, making his first trip to sea, and boat-puller for Kerfoot.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

I saw him looking anxiously about him, and noted that Kelly, who had come forward at the last moment, was missing.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)