nebbyadj.
/ˈnɛbi/, U.S. /ˈnɛbi/, Scottish English /ˈnɛbɪ/, Irish English /ˈnɛbi/ regional (chiefly Scottish, Irish English (northern), and English regional (northern)).
1. Interfering, inquisitive, nosy. Sc. National Dict. at nebbie, records the sense in use across a broad swathe of central and southern Scotland in 1963. Dict. Amer. Regional Eng. at nebby adj. records the sense as common chiefly in Pennsylvania.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > [adjective] > unduly
curiousa1340
inquisitive1529
prying1552
peering1568
speculative1605
emissitious1620
peeking1680
mousing1692
peery1699
long-nebbed1706
inquisitorial1796
nosy1827
nebby1860
inscrutive1882
rootin' tootin'1882
snoopy1895
stickybeak1917
nibby1942
pirooting1958
1860 J. Young Lays from Poorhouse 133 Before yon nebby police-court the smart o't ye may fin'.
1890 D. A. Simmons S. Donegal Gloss. 13 Nebby, interfering.
1928 Amer. Speech 3 463 A friend reports ‘nebbin’ as in use in Western Pennsylvania in the meaning of inquire into, nose about... An Adjective ‘nebby’, (‘she's a nebby child’) is also used.
1979 J. Morrow Confessions Proinsias O'Toole I don't want you to think I'm being nebby, but I have to get things straight.
1990 Harper's Mag. Oct. 40/2 King said you nebby, bleached Negroes come round here hassling us again I'll bust you up.
1998 R. Hill On Beulah Height (1999) i. ix. 78 Bit earlier and likely you'd have seen dozens. Local historians, bird-watchers, nebby hikers.
2. Sharp (in various senses); spec. brusque; impudent, cheeky; ill-natured. Sc. National Dict. at nebbie, records the sense in use across a wide area of central and southern Scotland in 1963.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > impudence > [adjective]
thristec897
bolda1000
keen1297
apert1330
smartc1400
malaperta1425
overbolda1425
affronted1485
saucy1511
impertinata1525
over-familiar1529
pert1535
cocket1537
cockapert1556
contumelious1561
impudent1563
brass-bold1582
pertlike1582
paughtya1586
audacious1586
copped1597
effronted1598
petulant1598
dortya1605
rufty-tufty1606
facy1607
snappish1608
bold-faceda1616
over-pert1621
impertinent1631
procacious1660
insolent1678
calleting1691
effrontuousa1734
imperent1771
free1775
sassy1799
pawky1809
iron-sideda1825
gilpie1835
cheeky1838
fresh1843
snouty1858
nebby1873
gay1889
nebsy1894
nervy1896
brass neck1925
facety1928
facey1929
brass-necked1935
chutzpadik1959
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > discourtesy > [adjective] > curt or brusque
short1390
cutted1530
snappish1542
abrupt1578
stunt1581
blunt1590
brusquea1639
snapping1642
blatec1650
brisk1665
bluff1705
offhand1708
prerupt1727
squab1737
prompt1768
crisp1814
brief1818
stuntya1825
curt1831
snappy1834
bluffy1844
nebby1873
offhandish1886
nebsy1894
1873 A. G. Murdoch Doric Lyre 41 I could tell A nebbie tale or twa Hoo pride will sometimes mak a slip.
1890 D. A. Simmons S. Donegal Gloss. 13 Nebby, impudent.
1894 R. O. Heslop Northumberland Words Nebby or nebsy, having a sharp, impertinent, and ill-natured manner.
1901 ‘G. Douglas’ House with Green Shutters xiii. 130 There's sma-all friendship atween me and Gourlay. He was nebby owre a bill I sent in the other day; and I'm getting tired of his bluster.
1918 A. Dodds Lothian Land 10 My losh, bit ye're a nebby cheild [sc. the east wind]!
1928 W. C. Fraser Yelpin' Stane 141 Look nebby. If ye dinny stick in, I'll no let ye come back.
1932 A. MacCormick Galloway xv. 171 He got nebby wi' me, an' I jist took him by the seat o' his breeks an' the scruff o' his neck.
1996 C. I. Macafee Conc. Ulster Dict. 233/2 Nebby,..sharp, ill-natured.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1860