Ivy
proper nounnouncommon in dialogue
A unisex given name from English.
proper noun
- 1
A unisex given name from English.
Kind people apply all the milder words to your face; only Father ever called it ugly. Ugly Ivy mingy as her name. Father himself was handsome and drunken. Mother had wanted 'Ivy' simple and yet pretty and for once stuck to her guns. You wished she hadn't.
- 2
A unisex given name from English. A female given name from English; popular in the UK in the beginning of the 20th century.
- 3
rareA unisex given name from English. A male given name from English.
Ivy Andrews, Ivy Calvin, Ivy Lee
- 4
rareA diminutive of the male given name Ivan.
Ivy Olson, Ivy Williamson
- 5
A surname from English.
Etymology
From ivy, the name of a plant. An ivy branch used to be hung outside an establishment to advertise that it sold alcohol, so it may originally been an occupationational surname for the proprietor of such an establishment.
noun
- 1
informalA university that is part of the Ivy League.
Etymology
Ellipsis of Ivy League.
Forms
- plural
- Ivys, Ivies