English Explanatory Dictionary

nitty

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Full of nits.
  2. Foolish, inane.
noun
  1. A dope fiend, a druggie.
adj
  1. detailed or specific; fastidious, fussy, nit-picky.
  2. Of a poker player: playing in an overly cautious and reactive manner.
adj
  1. Shining; elegant, spruce.

Pronunciation

/ˈnɪtiː/ /ˈnɪtɪ/ En-uk-nitty.ogg /ˈnɪti/ /-ɾi/

Word forms

nitty nittier more nitty nittiest most nitty nittie nitties

Etymology

From nit + -y. The “foolish, inane” adjective sense is from nit (“fool, nitwit”), possibly under the influence of nutty (“crazy, mad”). The origin of the noun sense (“dope fiend, druggie”) is unknown, but could refer to a person who is under the influence of drugs to the extent that he or she is careless about personal hygiene and unkempt. Compare the verb nit (“to be a nitty”).

Synonyms

lousy dumb idiotic addlebrained addlepated airheaded bee-brained beef-witted beefheaded beetle-headed birdbrained blockheaded Boeotian boneheaded boofheaded braindead brainless bubbleheaded buffle-headed bullet-headed cerebrally challenged childish chowderheaded chuckleheaded crackbrained cretinous daft dense dented dim-bulb dim-headed dim-witted dim doltish dopey dozy drowsy dull-headed dull-minded dull-witted dull dumber than a box of rocks dunderheaded empty-headed fatheaded feeble-minded flea-brained foolish fuzzy-headed fuzzy-minded goofy half-brained half-witted hammer-headed ignorant imbecilic inane insipid intellectually challenged knuckleheaded

Derived words

nittily nittiness
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