DictionaryAI

pursy

adjective
SayPUR-seeUS/ˈpɝsi/UK/ˈpɜːsi/

Formspursier, pursiest

3 meanings of pursy

Practice

  1. 1
    adjective
    Out of breath or breathing hard, especially because of being fat.

    After three flights of stairs, Uncle Joe was red in the face and pursy.

    The pursy old dog had to stop and rest halfway up the hill.

    Similarbreathless, wheezy, winded

    Note
  2. 2
    adjective
    Having a body that is short and fat.

    The shop owner was a pursy man, short and round, with a loud laugh.

    A pursy little pony stood next to the tall horses.

    Similardumpy, squat, tubby, portly, stout

    Oppositelanky

    Note
  3. 3
    adjective
    Pulled together into small folds, like lips pressed tight.

    Like the top of a cloth bag pulled shut with a string.

    His mouth went pursy when he tasted the lemon.

    The old man's pursy lips moved slowly as he read the letter.

    Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–2

It comes from an old word meaning "short of breath", probably from a French word meaning "to push" or "to breathe with difficulty".

Meaning 3

It is purse + -y, from purse meaning "pucker" and purse meaning "a small bag for money".