Judy

English

Pronunciation

• enPR: jo͞o'di, IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒuːdi/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

  Homophones: Judie

• Rhymes: -uːdi

Etymology 1

From Judith.

Alternative forms

• Judie

Proper noun

Judy

1. A diminutive of the female given name Judith, also used as a formal female given name.
   • 1931, Rose Fyleman, Punch and Judy:

     "Punch," said Judy,
     "You're looking moody."
     "Judy," said Punch,
     "I want my lunch."

   • 1989, Judy Carter, Stand-up Comedy: A Book, Dell Publ., →ISBN, page 35:

     I've never met an old person named Judy. Now that's true. Maybe something happens to girls with young names like Debby, Judy, and Susie. At a certain age they make you change it to Doris, Edna, or Myrtle.

Related terms

• Jodie
• Jody
• Jude
• Punch and Judy

Noun

Judy (plural Judies)

1. (slang, chiefly UK, Liverpool) A girl or woman.
   • 1937, Damon Runyon, A Piece of Pie:

     Then I ring the bell at this door marked Slocum, and who appears but a tall young Judy with black hair who is without doubt beautiful, but who is so skinny we have to look twice to see her […]

   • 1959, Frank Clune, Murders on Maunga-tapu, page 10:

     To steal a housewife's purse might mean that her children would have to go hungry; but what of that, if the flash young “dip” could gain admiration from his mates by boasting that he had “frisked a judy's cly and lifted a skinful of bunce”?

2. Any of various riodinid butterflies of the genus Abisara.

Etymology 2

Related to Yehudi, Judah.

Proper noun

Judy

1. A surname transferred from the given name.
2. (rare) A male given name from Hebrew.

Etymology 3

Interjection

Judy

1. (military) Aircrew has radar/visual contact on the correct target, has taken control of the intercept, and only requires situation awareness information.

Middle English

Proper noun

Judy

1. Alternative form of Jude