bony

[boh-nee]

adjective

bonier, boniest 

1. of or like bone.

2. full of bones.

3. having prominent bones; big-boned.

4. skinny; emaciated.

bony

/ ˈbəʊnɪ /

adjective

1. resembling or consisting of bone or bones

2. having many bones

3. having prominent bones

   bony cheeks

4. thin or emaciated

   a bony old woman

Other Word Forms

• boniness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bony¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, bony is from the Middle English word boni. See bone, -y ¹

Example Sentences

Tall and thin, with a bony face and piercing eyes, Abel spoke fluent German and English, in addition to Russian.

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Otophysan fish improved this pathway by adding small bony "ossicles" that connect the air bladder, often mistakenly called the swim bladder, to the inner ear.

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She lifts Ahmed's shirt to reveal his wounds, his bony back a reminder of the hunger stalking the city.

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Measuring about five metres long and weighing two tonnes, the four-legged beasts had large heads, adorned with a distinctive bony frill and three horns.

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Her sparse, wiry-looking fur sticks out in all directions as if she'd stuck that bony middle finger in an electric socket.

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Related Words

• emaciated 
• gaunt 
• scrawny 
• skinny