nice-Nelliness

English

Alternative forms

  • nice-nelliness, nice-Nellyness

Etymology

From nice Nelly +‎ -ness.

Noun

nice-Nelliness (uncountable)

  1. The state or quality of being a nice Nelly; prudishness or excessive modesty.
    Synonym: nice-Nellyism
    • 1947, Miriam Allen deFord, “Laureate of Bohemia: George Sterlin”, in They Were San Franciscans, Caldwell, Idaho: The Caxton Printers, Ltd., page 306:
      Sterling himself, though he had the most picturesque and inimitable vocabulary of vituperation, was highly squeamish about ordinary smut or profanity. He had indeed that nice-Nelliness which is often characteristic of the Don Juan type.
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