purty

comparative purtier · superlative purtiest · alternative purdy

1. IrelandUKUSdialectalinformalpronunciation spellingPronunciation spelling of pretty.

   Seen a purty girl down the road. Give her a big wink, too. Purty as hell, too.

   1939, John Steinbeck, chapter 22, in The Grapes of Wrath

   2 more examples

   He accordingly took out the purtiest girl in the ring, and danced a jig with her, to the admiration of the whole company; but at the end he forgot the warning, and complied with the custom of kissing one's partner. All at once everything vanished; and when Davy awoke nest morning, he found himself lying among the tombstones.

   1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 367

   George looked around at Lennie. "Jesus, what a tramp," he said. "So that's what Curley picks for a wife." "She's purty", said Lennie defensively.

   1937, John Steinbeck, chapter 2, in Of Mice and Men

alternative purdy

1. IrelandUKUSdialectalinformalnot comparablepronunciation spellingPronunciation spelling of pretty.

   They treated us purty good but we had to work hard.

   2004, Randall Williams, Weren't No Good Times: Personal Accounts of Slavery in Alabama, John F. Blair, Publisher, →ISBN, page 114

   2 more examples

   "Why, thin, Paddy, avick, it isn't your airly risin', anyhow that 'ill do you any harm this mornin'." "It's thrue enough for you, Thady Byrne," answered Paddy casting a look up at the sky; "for I b'leeve it's purty late in the day.

   1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 514

   Wall, be that as it may, ol' Hosshead was a purty good citizen in his day, an' he shore did make Juneybell toe the mark.

   1988, Herbert M. Sutherland, Tall Tales of the Devil's Apron, The Overmountain Press, →ISBN, page 97