ca'canny

[ kah-kan-ee, kaw- ]

nounBritish Slang.

a deliberate reduction of working speed and production by workers, to express their discontent.

Origin of ca'canny

First recorded in 1895–1900; literally, “drive gently”; see ca', canny

Words Nearby ca'canny

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ca'canny in a sentence

As a catchword they adopted the Scotch phrase ca'canny, to go slow or be careful not to do too much.
The Armies of Labor | Samuel P. Orth
He deplores the prevalence of ca'canny, of absenteeism, of the aggressive spirit shown towards the employers.
The London Mercury, Vol. I, Nos. 1-6, November 1919 to April 1920 | Various

British Dictionary definitions for ca'canny

ca'canny

/ (ˌkɔːˈkænɪ) /

nounScot

moderation or wariness
- a policy of restricting the output of work; a go-slow
- (as modifier): a ca'canny policy

Origin of ca'canny

C19: literally, call canny to drive gently

See also caa 2

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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