canny
English
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
2=ǵneh₃Please see Module:checkparams for help with this warning.
Northern English dialect, from can (“to know”)[1] (+ -y), from Middle English can, first and third person singular of cunnen, connen (“to be able, know how to”), from Old English cunnan (“to know how to, be able to”). Compare Scots canny, Old English cann (“knowledge, assertion”). More at can, cunning.
Adjective
canny (comparative cannier, superlative canniest)
- Careful, prudent, cautious.
- The politician gave a canny response to the reporter's questions.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Ramsay to this entry?)
- Knowing, shrewd, astute.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Sir Walter Scott to this entry?)
- The canny lawyer knew just how to get what he wanted.
- Frugal, thrifty.
- canny investments
- See Thesaurus:frugal
- 1751, Allan Ramsay, The Gentle Shepherd, in Poems by Allan Ramsay (1751 edition):
- Whate'er he wins, I'll guide with canny care.
- (Scotland, Northumbria) Pleasant, fair, favorable or agreeable to deal with.
- She's a canny lass hor like!
- 1783, Robert Burns, "Green Grow the Rashes O", Songs and Ballads
- But gie me a cannie hour at e'en,
- My arms about my dearie O;
- An' warl'y cares, an' warl'y men,
- Mae a' gae tapsalteerie O!
- But gie me a cannie hour at e'en,
- (Scotland, Northumbria) Gentle, quiet, steady.
- a canny horse; be canny with this letter
Usage notes
In common modern usage, "canny" and "uncanny" are no longer antonyms, although they are not synonyms.[2]
Derived terms
Related terms
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Translations
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Adverb
canny (not comparable)
- (Northumbria) Very, considerably; quite, rather.
- That's a canny big horse, man!
- a canny long journey; canny near home
- (Scotland, Northumbria) Gently, quietly; carefully, skilfully.
- he sits very canny; drive canny
Translations
References
- ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “canny”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
- ^ https://grammarist.com/usage/canny-vs-uncanny/
- Frank Graham, editor (1987), “CANNY”, in The New Geordie Dictionary, Rothbury, Northumberland: Butler Publishing, →ISBN.
- Scott Dobson, Dick Irwin “canny”, in Newcastle 1970s: Durham & Tyneside Dialect Group[1], archived from the original on 2024-09-05.
- Northumberland Words, English Dialect Society, R. Oliver Heslop, 1893–4
- Todd's Geordie Words and Phrases, George Todd, Newcastle, 1977[2]
Etymology 2
can (“more or less cylindrical metal container”) + -y
Adjective
canny
- (especially of sound) Sounding as if it is coming through a tin can.
- 1998 August 20, Kallel, Four speakers are a pain in the ass ;P, in 3dfx.products.voodoo2:
- The rear sounds sounded canny compared to the front ones. And you also have to adjust the volume so both pair of speakers are at the same level, […]
- 2000 October 17, "Dreamin Man" (username), Lexicon MPX 100?, in rec.audio.pro, Usenet:
- I am using the stereo outs, I am getting nice reverb out of it but the probelm[sic] is the entire sound is like i said like its coming through a can. even when in bypass mode it sound "canny".
- Thank you for your input.
- Stacey
- 2001 October 8, Philippe, Antwerp - what a disappointment !!!!, in alt.music.depeche-mode, Usenet:
- I was approch. 3 meters from the stage and the sound was very good from there. But if you had seats way up at the sides or at the back I can understand that you could have experienced a "canny" sound.
- 2006 March 23, "The Chris" (username), Re: Best Distortion Under $100, in alt.guitar, Usenet:
- The metal zone is too 'canny'.... Boss has a handful of great distortions - DS-1, Mega Distortion, DS-2, Heavy Metal....
- 2010 May 24, nm...@wt.net, FlipHD Saturday SECTR5 LittleWing, in alt.guitar, Usenet:
- Not bad.. Although I think the 290 might have a slight edge on video crispness, I think the audio is better on the ultra HD. Hear more low end, and slightly less canny sounding from what I can tell.
- 1998 August 20, Kallel, Four speakers are a pain in the ass ;P, in 3dfx.products.voodoo2:
Anagrams
Scots
Alternative forms
Etymology
2=ǵneh₃Please see Module:checkparams for help with this warning.
From the verb can (“to know”), from Middle English can, first and third person singular of cunnen, connen (“to be able, know how to”), from Old English cunnan (“to know how to, be able to”).
Pronunciation
Adjective
canny (comparative mair canny, superlative maist canny)
- careful, cautious, prudent or steady
- comfortable, gentle or cozy
- attractive or pleasing
- skilful, safe to work or deal with
- fortunate, lucky
- frugal, sparing
- (archaic) with supernatural or occult powers
Adverb
canny (comparative mair canny, superlative maist canny)
Related terms
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- Rhymes:English/æni
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms derived from Old English
- English lemmas
- English adjectives
- Requests for quotations/Ramsay
- Requests for quotations/Sir Walter Scott
- Scottish English
- Northumbrian English
- English adverbs
- English uncomparable adverbs
- Geordie English
- English terms suffixed with -y
- Scots terms derived from Middle English
- Scots terms derived from Old English
- Scots terms with IPA pronunciation
- Scots lemmas
- Scots adjectives
- Scots terms with archaic senses
- Scots adverbs