Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Having the quality or fragrance of balm; soothing.
  • adjective Mild and pleasant.
  • adjective Chiefly British Slang Eccentric in behavior.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Having the qualities of balm; aromatic; fragrant.
  • Producing balm: as, “the balmy tree,”
  • Soft; soothing; assuaging; refreshing.
  • Of healing virtue; healing: as, balmy medicines.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Having the qualities of balm; odoriferous; aromatic; assuaging; soothing; refreshing; mild.
  • adjective Producing balm.
  • adjective Informal Highly eccentric or crazy.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Producing balm.
  • adjective Soothing or fragrant.
  • adjective Mild and pleasant.
  • adjective informal Foolish; slightly crazy or mad; eccentric.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective mild and pleasant
  • adjective informal or slang terms for mentally irregular

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From balm +‎ -y.

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Examples

  • He had been sun-bathed in balmy weather, and brought in out of the wet when it rained.

    CHAPTER 7 2010

  • I'm so glad I moved here from Texas, where it's nice and balmy from the global warming.

    Sound Politics: Record low temperatures set 2006

  • It's officially autumn today, but it still feels like summer here in balmy southern Ontario.

    happy autumn 2005

  • The attendant of the room was sleeping like a near relative of the celebrated Seven, and nothing short of pins would rouse him; for he had been out that day, and whiskey asserted its supremacy in balmy whiffs.

    Hospital Sketches 1863

  • It was accompanied by a voice so enchantingly tender and melodious, that its sounds fell on the heart of Osbert in balmy comfort: it seemed sent by Heaven to arrest his fate: – the storm of passion was hushed within him, and he dissolved in kind tears of pity and contrition.

    The Castles of Athlin and Dunbayne: A Highland Story 1789

  • The last week or so had seen a rise in temperatures to the 80s, described as balmy and August-like.

    weapons of massdistraction › Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes 2003

  • DH said today felt "balmy" in comparison since we had a high of around 10 degrees F. Joy.

    Postcard from the Cave Nalini Singh 2009

  • Although Aillaud describes the weather as "balmy" on this November day, the temperature is 12 degrees, and the 22 mph wind makes it feel colder.

    Alaska gym teacher doesn't let elements stop exercise 2007

  • But looking in advance of the front, we do have a lot of moisture coming into areas of New England making for cloudy kind of balmy weather.

    CNN Transcript Jun 9, 2007 2007

  • St James Park in Exeter has proven to be some kind of balmy Big Freeze-defying oasis this weekend.

    BBC News - Home 2010

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