chilly (adj.)

1560s, "causing a sensation of cold," from chill (n.) + -y (2). Meaning "feeling coldish" is attested from 1610s; figurative sense of "distant, formal, not hearty or affectionate" is by 1841. Related: Chilliness. Earlier as an adjective was simply chill "tending to cause shivering" (1510s).

Entries linking to chilly

chill (n.)

Old English ciele, cele "cold, coolness, chill, frost, sensation of suffering from cold, sensation of cold experienced in illness," from Proto-Germanic *kal- "to be cold," from PIE root *gel- "cold; to freeze." In modern use perhaps a back-formation from the verb. Figurative sense "depressing situation or influence" is from 1821 (in Middle English the figurative sense was "suffering, misfortune").

-y (2)

adjective suffix, "full of or characterized by," from Old English -ig, from Proto-Germanic *-iga- (source also of Dutch, Danish, German -ig, Gothic -egs), from PIE -(i)ko-, adjectival suffix, cognate with elements in Greek -ikos, Latin -icus (see -ic). Originally added to nouns in Old English; used from 13c. with verbs, and by 15c. even with other adjectives (for example crispy).

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Definitions of chilly

chilly (adj.)

not characterized by emotion; "a female form in marble--a chilly but ideal medium for depicting abstract virtues"-C.W.Cunningham;

chilly (adj.)

appreciably or disagreeably cold;

Synonyms: parky

chilly (adj.)

lacking warmth of feeling;

a chilly greeting

chilly (n.)

very hot and finely tapering pepper of special pungency;

Synonyms: chili / chili pepper / chilli / chile

From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near chilly

Chile

chili

chiliad

chiliasm

chill

chilly

chime

chimenea

chimera

chimerical

chimichanga