"kerby" means: A children's ball game played in the street, the aim being to throw the ball against the opposite kerb and catch it on the rebound.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
kerby
(UK) A children's ball game played in the street, the aim being to throw the ball against the opposite kerb and catch it on the rebound.
Seen in the wild
“We’re looking at what Mother Nature would do on her own if she had 1,000 years to adapt,” said Bowden-Kerby, who founded the UNESCO-endorsed Reefs of Hope strategy. “We would have these kinds of things happening.”
Join other aspiring comedians and support each other on your comedy journey with local comedian Kerby Valladares and guests. Participants who complete all four sessions will be invited to showcase their material at th…
Yes, Kerby Meyers. We worked together as sportswiters in a news bureau. He started Drop The Puck after leaving, first as a yearly magazine. I was in there a bunch between 1993-96.
Definitions
(UK) A children's ball game played in the street, the aim being to throw the ball against the opposite kerb and catch it on the rebound.
"kerby" means: A children's ball game played in the street, the aim being to throw the ball against the opposite kerb and catch it on the rebound.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
"kerby" means: A children's ball game played in the street, the aim being to throw the ball against the opposite kerb and catch it on the rebound.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. Note the regional or dialect label (UK) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in
““We’re looking at what Mother Nature would do on her own if she had 1,000 years to adapt,” said Bowden-Kerby, who founded the UNESCO-endorsed Reefs of Hope strategy. “We would have these kinds of things happening.””
— Bluesky· May 2026“Join other aspiring comedians and support each other on your comedy journey with local comedian Kerby Valladares and guests. Participants who complete all four sessions will be invited to showcase their material at the Graduation Showcase. alexlibraryva.org/event/15941854”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Yes, Kerby Meyers. We worked together as sportswiters in a news bureau. He started Drop The Puck after leaving, first as a yearly magazine. I was in there a bunch between 1993-96.”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Other words near "kerby" (K)
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Related terms
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Semantically related
- kerb65%
(British, transitive) To damage vehicle wheels or tyres by running into or over a pavement kerb.
- kerb61%
To take a dog to the kerb for the purpose of evacuating.
- kerb drill61%
(UK) A series of instructions informing pedestrians on crossing the road safely, a forerunner of the Green Cross Code.
- brandings60%
(AU) A children's game in which one player tosses a tennis ball at other players who vigorously try to avoid being hit, the person being hit then becoming the person with the ball.
- kerbside59%
The side of the road, along which a kerb runs.