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Canny
Definitions
- 1 Careful, prudent, cautious.
"The politician gave a canny response to the reporter’s questions."
- 2 Natural, normal. proscribed
"I should have been glad to be assured that she prayed when on her knees, or read when that book was before her; I should have felt that she was more canny and human."
- 3 Sounding as if it is coming through a tin can. especially
"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, […]"
- 4 Knowing, shrewd, astute.
"The canny lawyer knew just how to get what he wanted."
- 5 Frugal, thrifty.
"canny investments"
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- 6 Friendly, pleasant, fair, agreeable; (sometimes) funny. Northumbria, Scotland
"She’s a canny lass hor like!"
- 7 Gentle, quiet, steady. Northumbria, Scotland
"a canny horse"
- 1 showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others wordnet
- 1 Very, considerably; quite, rather. Northumbria, not-comparable
"a canny long journey"
- 2 Gently, quietly; carefully, skilfully. Northumbria, Scotland, not-comparable
"he sits very canny"
- 1 A surname.
Etymology
Northern English dialect, from can (“to know”) ( + -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, English cunny, Old English cann (“knowledge, assertion”). More at can, cunning.
Northern English dialect, from can (“to know”) ( + -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, English cunny, Old English cann (“knowledge, assertion”). More at can, cunning.
Back-formation from uncanny.
can (“more or less cylindrical metal container”) + -y
See also for "canny"
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Unscramble this word: canny