horny

American  

[hawr-nee] / ˈhɔr ni /

adjective

hornier, horniest

1. consisting of a horn or a hornlike substance; corneous.

2. having a horn or horns or hornlike projections; horned.

3. hornlike as a result of hardening; callous.

   horny hands.

4. Slang: Vulgar.

   1. lustful.

   2. sexually excited.

5. Archaic. semiopaque or somewhat translucent, like horn.

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horny British  

/ ˈhɔːnɪ /

adjective

1. of, like, or hard as horn

2. having a horn or horns

3. slang

   1. sexually aroused

   2. provoking or intended to provoke sexual arousal

   3. sexually eager or lustful

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Other Word Forms

• hornily
  adverb
• horniness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of horny

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; horn + -y ¹

Explanation

Things that are horny either look like or are made of an animal’s horn or a similar hard material. The thick, hard nail on your big toe could be described as horny. The word horny, describing the bony projection on an animal's head, appeared in English before the 10th century. An informal meaning — that of being sexually aroused — appeared later. Male physical arousal was crudely referred to as "having the horn” in the late 18th century before becoming the word horny in the mid-19th century. First used exclusively for men, the word now describes women's sexual feelings as well.

Example Sentences

Black bass are fair to good on Zoom Horny Toads early and late, midday switching to Texas rigs and weightless Yum Dingers.

From Washington Times • Aug. 23, 2017

At the time, Bouldry-Morrison had been merging ideas from her two projects – her IDM productions and party music from Horny Vampyre – to create upbeat four-to-the-floor music people could dance to.

From The Guardian • Mar. 28, 2017

“Four Play” by Fred Wesley and the Horny Horns This song is funky like “The Notebook” is sad.

From Salon • Nov. 12, 2016

Hornby owns brands including Horny model railways, Scalextric, Airfix, Humbrol and Corgi.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2013

Epithelium from the Skin. c, Columnar cells resting on the fibrous true skin. p, The so-called prickle cells. g, Stratum granulosum. h, Horny cells. s, Squamous horny cells.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 6 "English Language" to "Epsom Salts" by Various