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Definition of kirby

kirby

/ˈkɜːr.bi/
kir · by
Plural:kirbies
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kirby Lexical Profile

kirby Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

British A small, double-pronged metal clip that springs shut to hold hair in place; a bobby pin or kirby grip.

Example

"She secured the loose strands of her updo with a single black kirby."

2

American A small city in Bexar County, Texas, located just northeast of downtown San Antonio.

3

A type of angling fishhook having the point offset to the side rather than aligned with the shank.

Example

"The veteran angler preferred a traditional kirby when baiting his line for bottom-feeding fish."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for kirby

• Rhymes for kirby

• Nearby Words

kip
kippah
kipper
kirby
kirengeshoma
kiribati
kirk

Word Origin & Etymology

As a term for a fishhook, named after Charles Kirby, a 17th-century London needle and hook maker. As a British term for a bobby pin (short for kirby grip), it derives from the trademark Kirbigrip, established by Kirby, Beard & Co. Ltd. of Birmingham.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Kirby. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 2, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/kirby
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