noun a personification of inquisitiveness. From NOSEY (inquisitive), first recorded in a captioned illustration in 1907. Various etymologies suggest links with peeping Toms and eavesdroppers at the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, a link with Archbishop of Canterbury Matthew Parker (1504–75) or the characteristics of rabbits in parks. Whatever its true origins 'Nosey Parker' is the source of 'nosey-parkering' (being inquisitive); 'nosey-park' (to be inquisitive); 'nosey-parkerdom', 'nosey-parkery', 'Nosey-Parkerism' (the condition of an inquisitve nature or a demonstration of invasive inquisitiveness); 'nosey-parkerishness' (a tendency towards inquisitive behaviour) UK, 1966