broody

broody
broody 1510s, "apt to breed," from BROOD (Cf. brood) (v.) + -Y (Cf. -y) (2). Figuratively, of persons, from 1851. Also, in modern use, sometimes "full of maternal yearning."

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • broody — broody; non·broody; …   English syllables

  • Broody — Brood y, a. Inclined to brood. Ray. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • broody — ► ADJECTIVE (broodier, broodiest) 1) (of a hen) inclined to incubate eggs. 2) informal (of a woman) having a strong desire to have a baby. 3) thoughtful and unhappy. DERIVATIVES broodily adverb broodiness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • broody — [bro͞od′ē] adj. broodier, broodiest 1. ready to brood, as poultry 2. inclined to brood, or dwell moodily on one s own thoughts broodily adv. broodiness n …   English World dictionary

  • broody — UK [ˈbruːdɪ] / US [ˈbrudɪ] adjective Word forms broody : adjective broody comparative broodier superlative broodiest 1) a) British wanting to have a baby Seeing tiny babies always makes me feel broody. b) wanting to lay eggs or sit on them a… …   English dictionary

  • broody — [[t]bru͟ːdi[/t]] 1) ADJ GRADED You say that someone is broody when they are thinking a lot about something in an unhappy way. He became very withdrawn and broody. 2) ADJ A broody hen is ready to lay or sit on eggs. 3) ADJ GRADED: usu v link ADJ… …   English dictionary

  • broody — brood|y [ˈbru:di] adj 1.) BrE informal wishing that you had a baby ▪ I get broody when I see baby clothes in shop windows. 2.) silent because you are thinking or worrying about something ▪ Damian s been really broody lately. 3.) if a female bird… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • broody — adjective 1 silent because you are thinking or worrying about something: Damian s been really broody lately. 2 informal wishing that you had a baby: I get broody when I see baby clothes in shop windows. 3 if a female bird is broody, it wants to… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • broody — /ˈbrudi/ (say broohdee) adjective (broodier, broodiest) 1. moody: *Mr Skyfish reached out, passing his hand over Max s body, never quite touching the broody, sunblistered face –joan d. vinge, 1985. 2. inclined to brood or sit on eggs: *when she… …  

  • broody — 1. noun (Poultry) A female bird which is in the condition to incubate eggs; a broody hen, duck, etc. There are six broodies in that coop. 2. adjective a) (Of birds) sitting persistently and protectively on a nest …   Wiktionary

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