Dictionary

welly en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈwɛli/

Etymology

Clipping of Wellington boot + -y.

Meanings

1. (countable, informal) A Wellington boot.
   • Dad has great big welly boots. For squishing in the mud; Two great big black welly boots: Thud, thud, thud. 2009, Verse for Ages:
2. (informal, uncountable) Force on a pedal or increase to any fuel or power for an engine or motor.
3. (informal, uncountable) Force or effort.
   • Come on! Put some welly into it!

Forms

Deriveds

give it some welly · welly whanging · green welly brigade · welly it · green-welly

Synonyms

elbow grease · back

Translations (5)

pl gaz (force on a pedal or increase to any fuel or power for an engine or motor) · es acelerón (force on a pedal or increase to any fuel or power for an engine or motor) · es acelerada (force on a pedal or increase to any fuel or power for an engine or motor) · pl energia (force on a pedal or increase to any fuel or power for an engine or motor) · de Gas (force on a pedal or increase to any fuel or power for an engine or motor)

welly en · ADV · etymology 2

Etymology

From welne, a dialectal variant of well-nigh.

Meanings

1. (Ireland, UK, dialectal, not-comparable, obsolete) Almost; nearly.
   • A person exceedingly hungry says, "I'm welly clem'd; I'm almost or well-nigh starved." It is the ordinary appeal of a beggar in the streets, when asking for food. 1853, Notes & Queries, volume 8, page 64:

welly en · ADV · etymology 3

Meanings

1. (in representations of Chinese pronunciation, not-comparable) Very.
   • The real thrill comes to the investigator when, convinced that he is no mere casual diner, the waiter grins broadly and says, "You don't worry. I get you something welly nice." 1928 October 13, The Argus, Melbourne, page 2, column 7: