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

Derived Forms

• ˈboniness, noun

Other Word Forms

• boni·ness 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

The mostly charred, bony remains of the young man who stayed were found in 1960 by the superintendent of the archeological site that is what’s left of the ancient city.

From Salon

"I just saw white, dull, bony kind of material," he told BBC Scotland.

From BBC

"The texture, tooth pattern, well-developed bony palate, and nostrils confirmed the item as the skull of a baby crocodile," they said.

From BBC

The olive green freshwater reptile has a distinct bony crest at the back of its head - by some estimates, it can grow up to 3m or nearly 10ft.

From BBC

They compared this to a remarkable new specimen of Pachystropheus, known as 'Annie', that contains hundreds of bones from several individuals, as well as evidence of sharks, bony fish, and even terrestrial dinosaurs.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• emaciated
• gaunt
• scrawny
• skinny