nitty Meaning & Definition
What Does Nitty Mean?
Nitty is used as an adjective meaning Full of nits. It is also used to mean Foolish, inane. As a noun, it means A dope fiend, a druggie.
Nitty: Key Facts
| Part of speech | adjective, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈnɪtiː/ |
| Plural | nitties |
| Comparative / superlative | nittier, nittiest |
Nitty Definition (Adjective)
- Full of nits.
- Foolish, inane.
Nitty as a Noun
- A dope fiend, a druggie.
Adjective
- (Excessively) detailed or specific; fastidious, fussy, nit-picky.
- Of a poker player: playing in an overly cautious and reactive manner.
Adjective
- Shining; elegant, spruce.
Synonyms of Nitty
The source does not list synonyms for this entry.
Nitty synonyms and antonyms →Word Forms & Grammar
nitty (comparative nittier or more nitty, superlative nittiest or most nitty)
nitty (plural nitties)
nitty (comparative more nitty, superlative most nitty)
Words That Rhyme With Nitty
Origin of Nitty
Origin 1: From nit + -y. The “foolish, inane” adjective sense is from nit (“fool, nitwit”), possibly under the influence of nutty (“crazy, mad”).[1]
Origin 2: The origin of the noun sense (“dope fiend, druggie”) is unknown, but could refer to a person who is under the influence of drugs to the extent that he or she is careless about personal hygiene and unkempt. Compare the verb nit (“to be a nitty”).
Origin 3: Probably from nitty(-gritty).
Origin 4: A clipping of nitid (“bright, lustrous, shining”), or directly derived from Latin nitidus (“glittering, shining”), from niteō (“to glitter, shine; to look beautiful or bright”) (from Proto-Indo-European *ney- (“to shine”)) + -idus (“tending to”).
Common Questions About Nitty
Is nitty an adjective or a noun?
Nitty is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as a noun.
What is the plural of nitty?
The plural of nitty is nitties.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of nitty?
The comparative form is nittier and the superlative form is nittiest.