Define:Canny

English

Etymology

Northern English dialect from

can

from Middle Inglis

can

, first and third person singular of

cunnen, connen

from Old English

cunnan

. Compare Scots

canny

, Template:Ang

cann

. More at can, cunning.

Pronunciation

• /ˈkæni/

  Rhymes: -æni

Adjective

Canny (comparative Cannier, superlative Canniest)

1. Careful, prudent, cautious.
2. Knowing, shrewd, astute.
3. Frugal, thrifty.
4. Template:Northumbria Pleasant, nice.

   She's a canny lass hor like!

5. Template:Northumbria Very or much.

   That's a canny big horse man!

Translations

careful, prudent, cautious

• Bulgarian: внимателен (bg) (vnimatelen), предпазлив (bg) (predpazliv)
• Finnish: varovainen
• Russian: осмотрительный (osmotritelʹnyj), осторожный (ru) (ostorožnyj)

• Swedish: försiktig

knowing, shrewd, astute

• Bulgarian: хитър (hitǎr), ловък (bg) (lovǎk)

very, much

Derived terms

• cannily
• canniness

References

• The New Geordie Dictionary, Frank Graham, 1987, ISBN 0946928118
• Newcastle 1970s, Scott Dobson and Dick Irwin,
• Northumberland Words, English Dialect Society, R. Oliver Heslop, 1893–4
• Todd's Geordie Words and Phrases, George Todd, Newcastle, 1977

Anagrams

• nancy, Nancy

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Scots

Etymology

From the verb

can

from Middle Inglis

can

, first and third person singular of

cunnen, connen

from Old English

cunnan

. More at can, cunning.

Pronunciation

• /kanɪ/, /kɑːnɪ/

Alternative forms

• cannie

Adjective

Canny (comparative mair Canny, superlative maist Canny)

1. careful, cautious, prudent or steady
2. comfortable, gentle or cozy
3. attractive or pleasing
4. skilful, safe to work or deal with
5. fortunate, lucky
6. frugal, sparing
7. (archaic) with supernatural or occult powers

Adverb

Canny (comparative mair canny, superlative maist canny)

1. carefully, cautiously

Related terms

• ca canny