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Definition of wally

wally

/ˈwɒli/
wal · ly
Plural:wallies
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wally Lexical Profile

wally Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

British A foolish, inept, or gullible person.

Example

"I felt like a right wally when I realized I had locked my keys inside the car."

2

British A large pickled cucumber or gherkin, typically sold in fish-and-chip shops.

Example

"He ordered a portion of cod and chips with a pickled wally on the side."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• adjective

1

Scottish Fine, pleasant, large, or sturdy in appearance or quality.

Example

"They walked out into the wally sunshine along the coastal path."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for wally

• Nearby Words

wallow
wallpaper
wallposter
wally
walnut
walrus
walsall

Word Origin & Etymology

The British slang noun for a foolish person emerged in the 1960s, probably derived from the male given name Walter (diminutive Wally) or Scots 'wally-draigle' (a weak or slovenly person). The Scottish adjective meaning fine or sturdy dates to the 16th century, likely related to Middle English 'walen' (to choose).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Wally. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/wally
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