nervy, a.
(ˈnɜːvɪ)
[f. nerve n. + -y1.]
1. Vigorous, sinewy, full of strength.
| 1607 Shakes. Cor. ii. i. 177 Death, that darke Spirit, in's neruie Arme doth lye. 1671 Salmon Syn. Med. iii. xvi. 361 The musculous and nervy parts of the body. 1818 Keats Endym. i. 174 Between His nervy knees there lay a boar-spear keen. 1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus lxiii. 83 On a nervy neck be tossing that uneasy tawny mane. |
| transf. 1633 Wilson in Donne's Poems 399 Thy nimble Satyres too, and every straine (With nervy strength) that issued from thy brain. |
2. a. Courageous, full of nerve.
| 1882 J. Walker Jaunt to Auld Reekie 221 His prentice laddie, A nervy chiel. 1893 C. King Foes in Amb. 46 He was one of the nerviest men in the whole troop. |
b. Cool, confident, impudent.
U.S. colloq.| 1896 Ade Artie viii. 75, I just received your nervy letter. 1897 Flandrau Harvard Episodes 89 ‘Well, I call it pretty nervy’, grumbled Sears. 1904 E. Robins Magnetic North ii. 118 Feeling that it is a little ‘nervy’..to walk into another man's house uninvited. 1948 Pauls Valley (Okla.) Daily Democrat 2 May 4 Wouldn't it be rather nervy to ask her help? |
3. Jerky, sudden.
| 1884 Cable Dr. Sevier xxviii, The nervy, unmusical waking cry of the mocking-bird. 1885 ― in Century Mag. Apr. 918/2 The movements were quick, short, nervy. |
4. Requiring nerve.
| 1897 Outing (U.S.) XXX. 481/2 It takes nerve, and lots of it, to play polo. It's the nerviest game played. |
5. Having one's nerves disordered; easily excitable, ‘jumpy’;
= nervous a. 9.
| 1891 R. T. Cooke Huckleberries gathered f. New England Hills 319, I expect I be sort o' nervy, what with takin' a journey and the thought o' seein' Melindy. 1906 Sat. Rev. 3 Mar. 254 They are very ‘nervy’ in Russia. 1916 Daily Mail 21 Sept. 7 (Advt.), When you are weak, anæmic, ‘nervy’, run-down, [etc.]. 1923 W. Deeping Secret Sanctuary viii. 77 You can explain that your brother was shell-shocked, and that he is still a bit nervy. 1932 A. Christie Peril at End House iii. 40, I have been worried to death. Everybody's been telling me I'm nervy. 1973 J. Burrows Like Evening Gone v. 63 Greta was grey as paper and peevish and nervy. |