Brelly

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An informal British word for an umbrella used to keep off rain while walking outdoors
2. A casual British term referring to a portable folding canopy held overhead to shelter from rain
3. Slang in Britain for the hand-held rain shield that people open above their heads in wet weather

Etymology: "Brelly" is a clipping of "umbrella", shortened by dropping the first syllable and adding the diminutive ending "-y", the same pattern behind many informal British words such as "hanky" and "telly". The result keeps the sound of the original while sounding friendlier and more casual, which is why it is typically heard in everyday speech rather than in formal writing.

Synonyms: umbrella, brolly