Meanings
amby1
plural ambies · alternative ambie
- informalAn ambulance.
Does anyone know where the EMD station is based for North Staffs Amby Service?
2002 October 5, Anthony R. Baddeley, “EMD North Staffs”, in uk.community.ambulance (Usenet), archived from the original on 30 Nov 20255 more examples
The 1st time I woke up I hit the snooze button, the 2nd I got out of bed, the third time was in the back of an ambulance. I have some dim memories of traffic coming to a stop and grabbing a whole handfull^([sic]) of brake. I was rather disoriented when I woke up in the back of an amby.
1993 July 21, Henry O. Farad, “odd places to wake up”, in alt.peeves (Usenet), archived from the original on 30 Nov 2025I've lived up in those selfsame mountains, and let me assure you that while I owned and drove several older VWs, I would not have spent a single March up there without one that would reliably make it to Dominican Hospital at flank speed. And faced with the same situation, would probably still have elected to have the amby meet me at the Safeway in Felton, or the fire house in BC.
1997 March 18, Jeffrey B. Zurschmeide, “Blood on 17...”, in scruz.general (Usenet), archived from the original on 30 Nov 2025Where do you get this statement, the amby has a bigger impact on peoples^([sic]) lives than the fire service.
2002 September 8, fred, “Those poor Firemen!”, in uk.community.ambulance (Usenet), archived from the original on 30 Nov 2025Well that's it I've been thinking about whether to keep the dam thing or not and after getting a look at Grumble (and a few whispers from said truck) myself and my partner are going to convert not 1 but 2 101 ambies and take them around the world hoping to ship out in about 4-5 yrs time.
2003 July 27, Kay Mawby, “I think I must be mad”, in alt.fan.landrover (Usenet), archived from the original on 30 Nov 2025Aerrrhhh, good point. So if you don't move over, the Amby hits you in the rear and leaves a paint marker on your bumper?
2003 October 22, Lon Stowell, “Ambulance bumper paint?”, in alt.folklore.urban (Usenet), archived from the original on 30 Nov 2025
amby2
plural ambies · alternative ambie
- informalAn ambidextrous person.
The slim design makes for easy one-hand opening for righties, lefties and ambies.
1999 August, “Great Stuff”, in Cliff Gromer, editor, Popular Mechanics4 more examples
Next time you have an amby, tell them quick like to close their eyes and serve a volleyball. Everybody prefers one side for something that they do, it's just a matter if syncing that something with a good choice to start the unknown with.
1997 April 11, RP Pelletier, “Re: Burton Slide Test”, in rec.skiing.snowboard (Usenet)Are you a righty? Or a lefty? Or -- gasp! -- an "amby?" (If you're an "amby," then which way do you play?).
1999 March 31, \"R&B\" [username], “Righty? Or lefty?”, in rec.sport.golf (Usenet)Medical scientists speculate that lefties and ambies exercise their brains more and grow more cells.
2001, Rita Robinson, Discover Yourself Through Palm Reading, New Page Books, →ISBN, page 41I mean the ambidextrous Test cricketers who batted right-handed and bowled left-arm, or the other way about.
2009 October 29, Kersi Meher-Homji, “Weird or wonderful? The cricketing ambies”, in The Roar, Sydney, N.S.W., archived from the original on 14 Nov 2018Synonyms: ambi, ambidexter
Synonyms & antonyms
nounAn ambidextrous person.
Origin
amby · noun
Clipping of ambidextrous + -y, after the pattern of rightie and leftie.
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
amby. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/amby
“amby.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/amby. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “amby,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/amby.
Source: amby on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.