charlie

1 of 3

noun (1)

char·​lie ˈchär-lē How to pronounce charlie (audio)
variants or less commonly charley
often capitalized
British
: fool

Charlie

2 of 3

communications code word

Char·​lie ˈchär-lē How to pronounce Charlie (audio)
used as a code word for the letter c

Charlie

3 of 3

noun (2)

used as a collective name for the Vietcong during the war in Vietnam

Examples of charlie in a Sentence

Noun (1) he's a nice enough bloke, but a real charlie when choosing his girlfriends

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

from the name Charlie

Communications code word

from the name Charlie

Noun (2)

short for Victor Charlie, from the communications code words for VC (Vietcong)

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1946, in the meaning defined above

Communications Code Word

1946, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1965, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of charlie was circa 1946

Dictionary Entries Near charlie

Cite this Entry

“Charlie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/charlie. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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