# pursy

Pronunciation: say "PUR-see" US /ˈpɝsi/, UK /ˈpɜːsi/

## Adjective

1. Out of breath or short-winded, especially as a result of being overweight.
   - Simple: Out of breath or breathing hard, especially because of being fat.
   - _The pursy security guard wheezed up the last flight of stairs, well behind the thief._
   - _Too pursy for the steep trail, he waited in the car while the others hiked to the lake._
2. Short and fat in build.
   - Simple: Having a body that is short and fat.
   - _The mayor was a pursy figure in a tight vest who barely reached the microphone._
   - _Behind the counter stood a pursy little clerk, round as a barrel, peering at us over his glasses._
3. Gathered or drawn up into small wrinkles or folds.
   - Simple: Pulled together into small folds, like lips pressed tight.
   - _She squinted into the wind, her eyes pursy against the blowing sand._
   - _The baby's pursy little lips kept working at the bottle long after it was empty._

## Origin

**Meanings 1–2** — From Middle English pursyf ("short of breath, asthmatic"), probably from Old French pousser ("to push; to breathe with difficulty"); compare French poussif ("wheezy").
**Meaning 3** — From purse ("pucker") + -y, and from purse ("small bag for carrying money") + -y.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/pursy (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).