Stripedy

In Southern and Appalachian speech, stripedy means having stripes or banded markings, especially when describing animals, clothing, beans, gourds, or other naturally patterned things.

#SouthernWords #Appalachia #Animals #Southern

synonyms: striped, banded, streaked

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I never knew 'stripedy' wasn't common everywhere until I's a grown up. It's a common one, I use it myself.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I never knew 'stripedy' wasn't common everywhere until I's a grown up. It's a common one, I use it myself.

Pronunciation

[STRAH-puh-dee]
/ˈstrɑː.pə.di/

Meaning & Usage

- Something marked with stripes or bands of color

Mildred:

Which cat was it this time?

Earl:

That stripedy one with the white paws.

variations: stripey, strippity, striped-y

★ Mountain folks often use -y endings to make color and pattern words sound more natural in speech - "stripedy," "speckledy," "raggedy." It softens the description and adds homey flavor. ★

Origin and Etymology

"Stripedy" developed from "striped" with an added -y ending, following a common Southern and Appalachian morphological pattern found in words like "raggedy," "gritty," and "speckledy." The form appears throughout 19th- and 20th-century rural speech, especially in descriptions of animals, household items, and farm produce. It reflects the region’s preference for vivid, descriptive, and rhythmically pleasing adjectives.

Usage Notes

"Stripedy" is most frequently used in rural or family settings, where descriptive language for animals, garments, or natural textures is part of daily life. The term sounds colloquial and homespun, and is associated especially with Appalachian elders and storytellers.

Commonly applied to cats, dogs, shirts, quilts, and vegetables.
Appears in children’s speech and folk descriptions.
Often conveys affection or a sense of familiarity.
Rare in formal writing, but widely understood in spoken dialect.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Is "stripedy" the same as "stripy"?

Similar, but "stripedy" is more distinctly Southern/Appalachian and has a softer, more colloquial sound.

What do people usually describe as "stripedy"?

Animals, clothing, gourds, beans, and anything with visible striping.

Is it still used today?

Yes, though most commonly among older speakers or in rural communities.

Is it considered incorrect in standard English?

It’s dialectal rather than standard, but perfectly correct within its regional context.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, December 4). Stripedy. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/stripedy
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Stripedy." HillbillySlang.com, 4 Dec. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/stripedy.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Stripedy." HillbillySlang.com. December 4, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/stripedy.