sleepyadj.
/ˈsliːpi/, U.S. /ˈslipi/ 1.
a. Inclined to sleep; having a difficulty in keeping awake; drowsy, somnolent.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > drowsiness > [adjective]
winkinga1000
slummy?c1225
anappedc1300
sleepya1325
heavy1382
slumberyc1386
sleepful1398
peisant1484
slumberous1495
drowsy1530
sleepish1530
sleepery1535
slumberinga1538
somnolent1547
heavy-headed1552
drowsy-headed1576
narrow-eyed1607
soporiferous1607
oscitant1625
nodding1631
Morphean1641
dormious1656
somniculous1656
dozed1659
drowsed1667
peeping1673
dozy1693
peepy1699
somniferous1798
noddy1801
dozing1820
head-nodding1832
snory1837
soporific1841
somnolescent1845
swodder1847
adrowse1848
snoozy1877
slumbersome1884
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 871 He woren drunken and slepi.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 385 Þe kyng werþe wonderliche slepy.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 94 I was noght slow ne slepi there.
c1440 Gesta Romanorum (Add. MS.) lxvi. 298 The maiden wexe slepie, and sore vexed, and fille on slepe.
1470–85 T. Malory Morte d'Arthur vi. i. 183 For this viij yere I was not so slepy as I am now.
1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. ccl Oh, I am so slepie, that I muste make an ende.
1587 G. Turberville Tragicall Tales f. 76v She shifted thence with shame Her sleepie husbandes sworde.
1662 J. Davies tr. A. Olearius Voy. & Trav. Ambassadors 321 There are some who take of it only once in two or three daies, which makes them sleepy.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iv, in tr. Virgil Wks. 130 Hollow Murmurs of their Ev'ning Bells, Dismiss the sleepy Swains, and toll 'em to their Cells. View more context for this quotation
1782 F. Burney Cecilia I. ii. v. 243 She soon grew sleepy, and retired to her own room.
1859 J. W. Carlyle Lett. II. 397 Fatigue, which makes an healthy human being sleepy.
1874 J. S. Blackie On Self-culture 49 Let a man sleep when he is sleepy.
b. Given to sleep; lethargic, heavy.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > [adjective]
unlustyc1225
sleepyc1384
phlegmatica1400
listlessc1440
owlist1440
unlisty1440
phlegmyc1450
sweyntc1450
supine1554
resty1565
unactive1591
sleepy-headed1600
log-like1602
inertious1611
stupefied?1611
lethargic1612
sedentary1625
torpent1647
torpid1656
torpulent1657
softly1664
inert1774
vegetative1789
spiritless1798
unenergetic1805
sloomy1820
slow-going1825
inenergetic1826
comatose1828
moony1847
mooning1864
torpid-minded1909
narcoleptic1965
vegged1986
c1384 G. Chaucer Hous of Fame 75 There slepeth ay this god vnmerie, With his slepy thousande sones.
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) vi. xvi He is slow, slepie and lusteles and forgendrith alle his lordis nedes.
?1504 M. Beaufort tr. Thomas à Kempis Ful Treat. Imytacyon Cryste (Pynson) iv. vi. 269 So wakynge to fables, so slepy to holy vygyls.
1579 W. Wilkinson Confut. Familye of Loue Ep. Ded. sig. *iij Those which are able..will not, because they are sleepy.
1654 E. Wolley tr. ‘G. de Scudéry’ Curia Politiæ 184 Those quiet and sleepy Princes, who have no other thoughts, but for their own defence.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 108 The sleepy Leacher shuts his little Eyes. View more context for this quotation
1757 tr. J. G. Keyssler Trav. II. 179 By others, from its sleepy countenance, [the statue] is supposed to be designed for the emperor Commodus.
1869 J. Martineau Ess. Philos. & Theol. 2nd Ser. 130 Men are too sleepy to look after it.
1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) V. 319 Arithmetic stirs up him who is by nature sleepy and dull.
c. transferred or figurative, in general or specific uses.For the latter see the quotations in (b).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > fruit or a fruit > [adjective] > decayed or decaying
sleepy1790
mosy1804
turpid1866
specked1882
dozy1923
the world > food and drink > food > dairy produce > [adjective] > cream > too frothy
sleepy1885
(a)
(b)1597 W. Langham Garden of Health 444 The iuice with Capons grease anointed on, helpeth rawe heeles and sleepie-galles.1790 F. Grose Provinc. Gloss. (ed. 2) (at cited word) An apple or pear beginning to rot is said to be sleepy.1796 F. Grose Provinc. Gloss. (ed. 3) Sleepy, much worn: the cloth of your coat must be extremely sleepy, for it has not had a nap this long time.1833 J. C. Loudon Encycl. Cottage Archit. §1975 Where the conduit pipes are of great length..the water..is found to lose much of its strength, and become what is technically called sleepy.1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple III. xiii. 176 I expect her to drop every minute, like an over-ripe sleepy pear.1885 J. Long Brit. Dairy-farming 82 Almost every one connected with the dairy knows what ‘sleepy’ cream is... The whole of the cream assumes the appearance of froth.1597 T. Beard Theatre Gods Iudgements i. xxxiv. 191 Then his sleepie conscience awaked, and hee fell into most horrible despaire.
1685 R. Baxter Paraphr. New Test. Matt. xxvii. 4 O the stupidity of seared sleepy consciences!
1700 J. Dryden tr. G. Boccaccio Cymon & Iphigenia in Fables 542 Love..oft to virtuous Acts inflames the Mind, Awakes the sleepy Vigour of the Soul.
1815 W. Wordsworth White Doe of Rylstone iii. 49 Not loth the sleepy lance to wield, And greet the old paternal shield.
1885 Times (Weekly ed.) 16 Oct. 4/2 This district was not..sleepy on the question of political opinion and political action.
d. sleepy lizard n. one of several Australian lizards of the family Scincidæ, esp. the shingleback, Trachylosaurus rugosus, found in the southern part of the country.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > reptiles > order Squamata (lizards and snakes) > suborder Lacertilia (lizards) > [noun] > unspecified and miscellaneous types
provincial1575
elephant1601
roquet1666
scorpion-lizard1709
Guernsey lizard1769
geitje1786
pleodont1840
ngarara1843
sleepy lizard1883
tucktoo1896
the world > animals > reptiles > order Squamata (lizards and snakes) > suborder Lacertilia (lizards) > [noun] > family Scincidae > member of genus Tiliqua (blue-tongue)
scincoid lizard1790
scincoid1831
blue-tongued lizard1848
sleepy lizard1883
bluetongue1892
blue-tongued skink1914
the world > animals > reptiles > order Squamata (lizards and snakes) > suborder Lacertilia (lizards) > [noun] > family Scincidae > trachylosaurus rugosus (sleepy lizard)
stump-tail1868
sleepy lizard1883
1883 F. McCoy Prodromus Zool. Victoria I. viii. 15 These Lizards are very sluggish, so that the popular name ‘Sleepy Lizard’ as well as ‘Blue-tongue’ comes to be applied to both.
1887 F. McCoy Prodromus Zool. Victoria xiv. 120 Not uncommon about Melbourne, where it is generally called the ‘Bluetongued Lizard’, or ‘Sleepy Lizard’.
2.
a. Characterized by, appropriate or belonging to, suggestive of, sleep or repose.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > [adjective]
lighteOE
sleepy?c1225
somnaical1655
soporal1716
heavyish1736
soporific1754
morphetic1788
slumberous1820
sleepful1827
soporifical1837
slumberful1844
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 199 Þe bi masede gast. þe in aslepi scheomeles for ȝemeð him seoluen.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis II. 93 He routeth with a slepi noise.
1390 J. Gower Confessio Amantis III. 48 Of Daniel the slepi dremes.
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iv. f. 175 When the sleepie time of the night comes in, they make lesse and lesse noyse.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) ii. i. 216 Surely It is a sleepy Language; and thou speak'st Out of thy sleepe. View more context for this quotation
1617 F. Moryson Itinerary i. 247 We..did in this sort passe the sleepy houres in the morning.
1637 T. Venner Censure in Via Recta 341 If in use of the Water you shall finde a..sleepie disposition.
a1774 O. Goldsmith tr. P. Scarron Comic Romance (1775) I. xxv. 287 Rancour began to sleep with more tranquility.., his sleepy faculty not being now disturbed.
1786 F. Burney Diary 4 Nov. (1842) III. 211 I did not approach the Queen that night with much of a sleepy composure.
1820 W. Scott Monastery I. Introd. Ep. 16 In the true sleepy tone of a Scotch matron when ten o'clock is going to strike.
1849 G. P. R. James Woodman I. vii. 125 With a sleepy but affectionate look.
1891 S. Baring-Gould In Troubadour-land xvi. 226 It does a little sleepy trade in salt.
b. Of morbid states. See also sleepy sickness n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > [adjective] > of disease or morbid state
soporiferous1583
sleepy1623
soporous1684
soporose1710
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > stupor or coma > [adjective] > morbid sleep
soporiferous1583
lethargic1595
lethargical1617
sleepy1623
soporous1684
soporose1710
narcoleptic1904
hypersomnic1929
1623 H. Cockeram Eng. Dict. ii A Sleepie disease, lethargie.
1656 tr. J. A. Comenius Latinæ Linguæ Janua Reserata: Gate Lat. Tongue Unlocked xxx. §309 Continual [sleep],..or the sleepie-evil.
1704 Dict. Rusticum Sleepy-evil, is a Distemper in Swine, which takes them in Summer-time.
1707 (title) An Exact Relation of the Strange and Uncommon Sleepy Distemper of Dirk Bakker.
1749 D. Hartley Observ. Man i. i. §1. 46 During Sleep and sleepy Distempers the Brain is particularly compressed.
1831 W. Youatt Horse vii. 103 Some say that there is a yellowness of the eye..in the early stage of sleepy or stomach-staggers.
1913 W. A. N. Dorland Illustr. Med. Dict. (ed. 7) 887/1 Sleepy staggers, stomach staggers, a disease of horses, of unknown causation but usually associated with the eating of moldy hay and grain.
1922 Times Lit. Suppl. 3 Aug. 511/2 The tomato suffers from the so-called ‘Sleepy Disease’ manifested in a wilting of the plant.
c. Of places.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > quietness or tranquillity > [adjective] > specifically of places
quiet?a1513
sleepy1851
slumberous1863
Zenned-out1968
1851 G. Meredith Love in Valley xix Down the sleepy roadway Sometimes pipes a chaffinch.
1868 M. E. Braddon Dead-Sea Fruit i The quiet streets and lonely squares of that sleepy Belgian city.
3. Inducing sleep; soporific. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > [adjective] > causing or inducing sleep
sleepingc1369
sleepy1398
lullingc1440
somnolentc1475
sleepery1513
sleeprife1513
narcotic1526
opiate1543
breed-sleep1582
somnoriferous1583
drowsy1590
dormitive1593
soporiferous1601
somniferous1602
sleep-bringing1605
dormitary1609
hypnotic1625
dormitory1631
papaverous1646
dormant1654
hypnotical1657
somnifyinga1661
sleepifying1662
slumberous1667
soporific1690
somnific1721
somniculous1820
somnorific1865
soporous1866
drowsing1881
narcoleptic1984
1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomew de Glanville De Proprietatibus Rerum (Bodl.) xvii. cxxviii Popy hatte Papauere and is a slepye herbe.
c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 529 His slepy yerde in honde he bar.
1559 W. Cuningham Cosmogr. Glasse 53 Morpheus the God of dreames, with his slepie rodde.
1598 J. Stow Suruay of London 41 Giuing to his keepers a sleepie drinke.
1651 R. Wittie tr. J. Primrose Pop. Errours 391 Those that are poysonous in their whole substance, as sleepy nightshade.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics i, in tr. Virgil Wks. 52 Sleepy Poppies harmful Harvests yield. View more context for this quotation
1760 Impostors Detected II. iv. vi. 209 At length we were forced to have recourse to some sleepy drugs.
1819 P. B. Shelley Cenci v. iii. 97 Come, I will sing you some low, sleepy tune.
1898 S. R. Crockett Red Axe 41 The old clothes..gave off such a faint, musty, sleepy smell I could scarcely keep awake.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
sleepy-eyed adj.
ΚΠ
1808 Sporting Mag. 30 77 The ‘sleepy-eyed’ beauties of Lely.
1876 ‘G. Eliot’ Daniel Deronda III. v. xxxv. 21 No sleepy-eyed animal.
sleepy-headed adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > [adjective]
unlustyc1225
sleepyc1384
phlegmatica1400
listlessc1440
owlist1440
unlisty1440
phlegmyc1450
sweyntc1450
supine1554
resty1565
unactive1591
sleepy-headed1600
log-like1602
inertious1611
stupefied?1611
lethargic1612
sedentary1625
torpent1647
torpid1656
torpulent1657
softly1664
inert1774
vegetative1789
spiritless1798
unenergetic1805
sloomy1820
slow-going1825
inenergetic1826
comatose1828
moony1847
mooning1864
torpid-minded1909
narcoleptic1965
vegged1986
1600 tr. T. Garzoni Hosp. Incurable Fooles 23 Negligent, sluggish, and altogither sleepie-headed.
1828 W. Scott Fair Maid of Perth v, in Chron. Canongate 2nd Ser. I. 129 Not to protect thee against this sleepy-headed Henry.
1841 B. Hall Patchwork II. xiii. 252 The sleepy-headed manner of doing business in..Sicily.
sleepy-headedness n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > drowsiness > [noun]
somnolencec1386
sleepingness1398
slumberness1495
sleepiness1580
soporiferousness1598
somnolency1623
dozedness1671
doziness1679
swother?c1730
sleepfulness1818
somnolescence1831
sleepy-headiness1841
slumberousness1842
nappishness1851
sleepy-headedness1884
snooziness1887
1884 G. Moore Mummer's Wife (1887) 24 This charge of sleepyheadedness seemed to discountenance her.
sleepy-headiness n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > drowsiness > [noun]
somnolencec1386
sleepingness1398
slumberness1495
sleepiness1580
soporiferousness1598
somnolency1623
dozedness1671
doziness1679
swother?c1730
sleepfulness1818
somnolescence1831
sleepy-headiness1841
slumberousness1842
nappishness1851
sleepy-headedness1884
snooziness1887
1841 B. Hall Patchwork II. xi. 205 The sleepyheadiness of the Maltese rowers.
sleepy-looking adj.
ΚΠ
1842 S. Lover Handy Andy xxiv A very sleepy-looking gossoon entered.
C2.
sleepy-baw n. a nursery name for sleep; also as v. intransitive, to go to sleep.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > [verb (intransitive)] > go to sleep or fall asleep
to fall, lull, lay (bring obs.) asleepOE
to fall overa1752
to go off1813
to drop off1820
to fall off1822
to get off to sleep1837
to fall off1862
tope1863
sleepy-baw1907
to go out1928
to zizz off1962
1907 N. Munro Daft Days x. 85 Just you lie down there pet, and sleepy-baw.
sleepy-bye n. (also sleepy-byes) Scottish
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > [noun]
sleepc825
swevenOE
swevetOE
repasta1382
slumberc1386
lib1665
the land of Nod1738
balmy1841
shut-eye1899
beddy-byes1906
dreamland1912
sleepy-bye1925
sack drill1946
sack duty1954
zed1973
1925 M. Beerbohm Observ. 37 Before you go to sleepy-bye I'll read it to you.
1968 A. Diment Bang Bang Birds x. 177 ‘Sleepy byes time, Lex,’ and I just felt the prick in my arm before I was blotted out again.
sleepy-head n. a sleepy or lethargic person; a drowsy-head.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > drowsiness > [noun] > one who is drowsy
dormousea1568
drowsy-head1576
sleepy-head1577
John-a-nods1600
soporific1808
somnolent1841
somnivolent1884
drowser1887
1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. II. iv. x. sig. Nnn.ivv/2 These sleepieheads haue nothing to alledge for this their..imagination of the sleepe of the soule.
1841 C. Dickens Barnaby Rudge xxi. 53 ‘Here, sleepy-head,’ said Joe, giving him the lantern. ‘Carry this.’
Sleepy Hollow n. (a) a name given to a place with a soporific atmosphere or characterized by torpidity (in quot. 18202, to which some quots. allude, the name of a valley near Tarrytown (Irving's home) in Westchester county, N.Y. State); (b) (as sleepy hollow) a type of comfortable deep-upholstered armchair; also called sleepy-hollow chair.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > [noun] > place
Sleepy Hollow1820
the world > the earth > named regions of earth > named cities or towns > [noun] > in North America > (part of) New York > Westchester county
Sleepy Hollow1820
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > seat > chair > [noun] > armchair > other armchairs
great chair1749
porter's chair1806
sleepy-hollow chair1820
roundabout1834
Glastonbury chair1853
frowst1905
club chair1919
carver1927
1820 W. Irving Sketch Bk. vi. 51 (heading) The legend of Sleepy Hollow.
1820 W. Irving Legend Sleepy Hollow in Sketch Bk. vi. 53 This sequestered glen has long been known by the name of Sleepy Hollow, and its rustic lads are called the Sleepy Hollow Boys.
1834 M. Edgeworth Helen I. xv. 321 Beauclerc, who had not yet tried the chair, sank into its luxurious depth, and leaning back, asked if it might not be appropriately called the ‘Sleepy-hollow’.
1836 Madrid in 1835 I. v. 94 No friendly arm-chair; none of that somniferous form, not unaptly termed ‘sleepy hollow’.
1868 L. M. Alcott Little Women I. v. 79 There were..Sleepy-Hollow chairs, and queer tables.
1897 F. T. Bullen Cruise ‘Cachalot’ (1901) xxiv. 311 The whole place seemed a maritime sleepy hollow, the dwellers in which had lost all interest in life.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. xiii. [Nausicaa] 360 Rip van Winkle we played... Then I did Rip van Winkle coming back. She leaned on the sideboard watching. Moorish eyes. Twenty years asleep in Sleepy Hollow.
1924 J. Galsworthy White Monkey i. vii. 53 ‘First time I remember anything of the sort on that Board.’ ‘Sleepy hollow,’ said Soames.
1955 ‘A. Gilbert’ Is she Dead Too? v. 91 There's plenty of work to be had, you don't have to stop in Sleepy Hollow.
1957 M. Swan Brit. Guiana 98 It is a charming little sleepy hollow of a town with long strait streets.
1966 M. M. Pegler Dict. Interior Design (1967) 412 Sleepy hollow chair, a mid-19th-century American chair which is upholstered and has a curved back and low, comfortable arms. The seat is usually scooped out.
1976 N. Freeling Lake Isle viii. 43 This bastard in Soulay is merely wanting to make a fuss. Sleepy hollow. If he were any good he wouldn't be there.
1981 London Rev. Bks. 2 July 6/4 The restless forces were never as strong in Britain as the laws of inertia and the politics of Sleepy Hollow.
sleepy nightshade n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants perceived as weeds or harmful plants > poisonous or harmful plants > poisonous bush or tree > [noun] > deadly nightshade
nightshadeOE
dwale14..
garden nightshade1576
deadly nightshade1578
sleeping nightshade1578
belladonna1597
death's herb1598
sleepy nightshade1611
banewort1861
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Morelle somnifique, Sleepie Nightshade.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. 75/2 The sleepy Night-shade hath a Sage-like leaf, with a purple Bell-flower.
1796 W. Withering Arrangem. Brit. Plants (ed. 3) II. 252 Deadly, or sleepy Nightshade.
sleepy-time n. U.S. bedtime.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > day and night > night > [noun] > bedtime
bedtimea1250
night lying?1456
sleeping time?1456
sleepy-time1862
the world > physical sensation > sleeping and waking > sleep > bed related to sleep or rest > [noun] > bedtime or time spent in bed
bedtimea1250
sleepy-time1862
lie-in1867
lie1930
sack time1944
1862 S. K. Holmes Jrnl. 19 Aug. in Brokenburn (1955) 137 He was satisfied I would not sleep a wink, but at sleepy time..we all went to bed and slept soundly.
1918 S. C. Bryant Stories to tell Little Ones p. ix I have been in the habit of singing them rhymes..a while before sleepy-time.
1950 O. Nash Family Reunion 81 At sleepy-time he beats a path Straight to the bedroom or the bath.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.?c1225