Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun An umbrella.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun UK, New Zealand, informal Umbrella.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun colloquial terms for an umbrella

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Shortening and alteration of umbrella.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From umbrella, by contraction, +‎ -y (diminutive).

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Examples

  • June 8, 2009 at 3: 09 pm hullo Denny – wanted to know, beyond winning the blighty brolly, is there a legit way to get one?

    UKTV’s Blighty and British Designer Ted Baker Join Forces « Art & Business of Motion 2009

  • Defence chiefs axed another 7,000 civilian jobs today in a massacre of the so-called brolly brigade.

    Evening Standard - Home Joe Murphy 2011

  • Fans' fury as the BBC sacrifices Formula One to save Wimbledon Corporation decides to give up half of their races from 2012 7,000 more jobs cut in MoD war on overspending Defence chiefs axed another 7,000 civilian jobs in a massacre of the so-called brolly brigade Police helicopter noise blights our lives, say West End residents West End residents say their lives are being blighted by the near constant drone of police helicopters MPs at loggerheads over move to cut Olympia Tube services Two London MPs at odds over plans to stop running Tube services to and from Kensington Olympia on weekdays to free up trains, track and...

    Evening Standard - Home 2011

  • New stem cell treatment hope for MS sufferers Multiple sclerosis sufferers have been given fresh hope as London doctors announced a pioneering stem cell trial 7,000 more jobs cut in MoD war on overspending Defence chiefs axed another 7,000 civilian jobs in a massacre of the so-called brolly brigade Shopkeeper pistol-whipped and knifed by robbers attacks 'lenient' sentences A store owner who along with his son fought off two armed robbers told today of his disgust at the 'lenient' sentences given to the pair Terror suspect sent to Midlands loses appeal to return to London A terror suspect banned from London over allegations of plotting a 'Mumbai-style' attack has lost a High Court bid to be allowed to return...

    Evening Standard - Home Paul Cheston 2011

  • Expecting more people to party at home, Bass Pale Ale, owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev, is distributing more "brolly" bar tools for pouring Black & Tans — a drink with light-colored ale at the bottom and dark Guinness on top.

    Ad Track: Brewers hope beer lovers party on St. Pat's 2009

  • And it included even his clothes and boots and collar, the ridiculous hat upon the peg, the unsightly "brolly" in the dingy corner.

    The Centaur Algernon Blackwood 1910

  • Rizzle Kicks, under a brolly, considering movie hardmen.

    2011: Celeb lists, unavoidable stars and sick 2011

  • A cagoule and brolly might seem sufficient but to be safe it might be best to take along a small boat.

    Wimbledon 2011: Your survival guide to SW19 2011

  • Steve McClaren deserves all the credit in the world for putting away the brolly and working hard overseas to restore his reputation significantly, yet Sir Trevor Brooking may have been a tad premature in installing him as favourite to succeed Fabio Capello.

    Tackling is still nowhere as hard as in the bad old days Paul Wilson 2010

  • Many of these storms bubble up during August and September, so keep your brolly handy.

    Weatherwatch: how to forecast a storm 2011

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