nice-Nelliness

English

Alternative forms

• nice-nelliness, nice-Nellyness

Etymology

From nice Nelly +‎ -ness.

Noun

nice-Nelliness (uncountable)

1. The state or quality of being a nice Nelly; prudishness or excessive modesty.

   Synonym: nice-Nellyism

   • 1947, Miriam Allen deFord, “Laureate of Bohemia: George Sterlin”, in They Were San Franciscans, Caldwell, Idaho: The Caxton Printers, Ltd., page 306:

     Sterling himself, though he had the most picturesque and inimitable vocabulary of vituperation, was highly squeamish about ordinary smut or profanity. He had indeed that nice-Nelliness which is often characteristic of the Don Juan type.