NERVOUS NELLIE or NELLY - n. nervous nelly, -nelly

PRONUNCIATION: (nuhr-vuhs NEL-ee)

MEANING: noun: One who is unusually nervous, timid, or fearful.

ETYMOLOGY: From nervous, from nervus (nerve) + Nelly/Nellie, a female given name. Earliest documented use: 1925.
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NERVOUS KELLY - how he felt after seeing the "NINA" in the want-ad

NE'ER VOUS, NELLIE - Non, Mademoiselle, you don't have to worry about this

NERVOUS NEELIE - how Francie Nolan's brother (in Brooklyn) felt about going on his first date