Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- Short-winded; asthmatic; now, usually, fat and short-winded.
- noun See the quotation.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Fat and short-breathed; fat, short, and thick; swelled with pampering.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective
fat andshort -breathed
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective breathing laboriously or convulsively
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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His eyes seemed to plead with Privy Seal, who paced the gallery in short, pursy strides, his plump hands hidden in the furs behind his back.
Privy Seal His Last Venture Ford Madox Ford 1906
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He not shall know to march, he is pursy, he is foundered.
Of phrasebooks, battleship lieutenants and lightning-struck postillions 2010
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He not shall know to march, he is pursy, he is foundered.
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He not shall know to march, he is pursy, he is foundered.
Of phrasebooks, battleship lieutenants and lightning-struck postillions 2010
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The only practical purpose which it now subserves in American politics is to give enough exercise to Radicalism to keep it “in wind,” and to prevent its becoming pursy and lazy, from having nothing to whip.
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Nicolette, who had succeeded to Magnon, and that short-breathed and pursy
Les Miserables 2008
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And where dost thou lay they pursy sides? said she.
Pamela 2006
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Now I will give you a picture of this wretch: She is a broad, squat, pursy, fat thing, quite ugly, if any thing human can be so called; about forty years old.
Pamela 2006
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Molyneux, Bishop of Bullocksmithy, doffed crosier and mitre for that day, and though fat and pursy, panted up the breach with the most resolute spirit, roaring out war-cries and curses, and wielding a prodigious mace of iron, with which he did good execution.
Burlesques 2006
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I stopt for her, till her pursy sides were waddled up to me; and she held by my arm, half out of breath: So I was forced to pass by the dear place, without daring to look at it.
Pamela 2006
knitandpurl commented on the word pursy
""And infirmity in your pursy lungs, my good friend. Reconsider.""
Under the Harrow by Mark Dunn, p 413
September 4, 2011