Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Snappish; saucy; impudent; bold; pert.

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

  • adjective Geordie Overly inquiring; nosey.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From neb.

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Examples

  • Of course, it can also serve scare off priggish, nosy (or "nebby" as we say here in western PA) relations, should you happen to have any, as in:

    Toast: Lindy 2006

  • Of course, it can also serve scare off priggish, nosy (or "nebby" as we say here in western PA) relations, should you happen to have any, as in:

    Root Beer Dreams Part III: Capping It Lindy 2006

  • Of course, it can also serve scare off priggish, nosy or "nebby" as we say here in western PA relations, should you happen to have any, as in: "...there was a booming, house-shaking roar in the basement, followed by a metallic ping, as something hit the basement ceiling, directly below us.

    In a Glass Lindy 2007

  • Of course, it can also serve scare off priggish, nosy or "nebby" as we say here in western PA relations, should you happen to have any, as in: "...there was a booming, house-shaking roar in the basement, followed by a metallic ping, as something hit the basement ceiling, directly below us.

    Root Beer Dreams Lindy 2006

  • John Aravosis refused to divulge the name even in private correspondence — yes, I was nebby enough to ask, although his published piece cleverly hinted that the “mystery gay” was House Speaker Denny Hastert himself.

    Think Progress » ThinkFast: October 10, 2006 2006

  • He was nebby owre a bill I sent in the other day; and I'm getting tired of his bluster.

    The House with the Green Shutters George Douglas Brown 1885

  • "Pittsburgh Dad" celebrates and makes fun of the unique speech of the working-class city, where yinz means you all, nebby means nosy and redd up means clean up.

    StarTribune.com rss feed 2011

  • "She was always nebby and curious about things," said her father, a Canonsburg resident.

    post-gazette.com - News 2009

  • Many of them usually aren't open to the public, so if you're nebby like me, it's a great opportunity to have a good old nose around an unusual building.

    British Blogs 2008

Comments

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  • Funny, a false cognate of "nebbish" (submissive or ineffectual person, from the Yiddish nebekh ‘poor thing’) with almost an opposite meaning.

    April 7, 2010