The phrase to be nebby is heard particularly in Western Pennsylvania, and means to be “picky” or “gossipy.” Originally, it meant “nosy” or “snooping.” Nebby is a vestige of Scots-Irish, where the word neb means “nose” or “beak.” This is part of a...
Julia in central Indiana grew up hearing nibby for someone who snoops or gets into other people’s business. The more common spelling is nebby, a Western Pennsylvania term that fits her family’s earlier move from Pennsylvania into Ohio and Indiana...