canniness
i adjective
1.
careful; cautious; prudent: a canny reply.
2.
astute; shrewd; knowing; sagacious: a canny negotiator.
3.
skilled; expert.
4.
frugal; thrifty: a canny housewife.
5.
Scot.
a.
safe to deal with, invest in, or work at (usually used with a negative).
b.
gentle; careful; steady.
c.
snug; cozy; comfortable.
d.
pleasing; attractive.
e.
Archaic. having supernatural or occult powers.
adverb Also, can·ni·ly.
6.
in a canny manner.
7.
Scot. carefully; cautiously.
00:10
Canniness
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To canniness
Collins
World English Dictionary
canny (ˈkænɪ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj , -nier, -niest | |
| 1. | shrewd, esp in business; astute or wary; knowing |
| 2. | dialect (Scot), (Northeast English) good or nice: used as a general term of approval |
| 3. | (Scot) lucky or fortunate |
| —adv | |
| 4. | dialect (Scot), (Northeast English) quite; rather: a canny long while |
| [C16: from | |
| 'cannily | |
| —adv | |
| 'canniness | |
| —n | |
| canny (ˈkænɪ) | |
| —adj , -nier, -niest | |
| 1. | shrewd, esp in business; astute or wary; knowing |
| 2. | dialect (Scot), (Northeast English) good or nice: used as a general term of approval |
| 3. | (Scot) lucky or fortunate |
| —adv | |
| 4. | dialect (Scot), (Northeast English) quite; rather: a canny long while |
| [C16: from | |
| 'cannily | |
| —adv | |
| 'canniness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
canny
1630s, Scottish and northern England formation from can (v.) in its sense of "know how to." Often used superciliously of Scots by their southern neighbors, implying "thrift and an eye to the main chance."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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