'smileys' vs 'smilies'

[Nessie]

Hi,
What's the difference among 'smileys' and 'smilies'?
By the way, does the word 'smily' exist?

Thanks a lot,
Nessie.
_________________
... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know..

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[Molly]

To me "smilies" would be the plural of "a smiley".

[Nessie]

But I can see the other words used...
_________________
... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know..

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

[Yankee]

Hi Nessie

The dictionaries that include a plural form for the noun "smiley" seem to give only "smileys" as the plural form. I'd say one reason you see both forms being used (i.e. -eys and -ies) may be that some other words that end in -ey can use either -eys or -ies as the plural form (e.g. storeys/stories, moneys/monies). And, of course, the -ies ending is a common plural form.
.