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canny

[ kan-ee ]
/ ˈkæn i /
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See synonyms for: canny / canniness on Thesaurus.com

adjective, can·ni·er, can·ni·est.
adverb Also can·ni·ly.
in a canny manner.
Scot. carefully; cautiously.
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Origin of canny

First recorded in 1580–90; can1 + -y1

OTHER WORDS FROM canny

can·ni·ness, nouno·ver·can·ny, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use canny in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for canny

canny
/ (ˈkænɪ) /

adjective -nier or -niest
shrewd, esp in business; astute or wary; knowing
Scot and Northeast English dialect good or nice: used as a general term of approval
Scot lucky or fortunate
adverb
Scot and Northeast English dialect quite; rathera canny long while

Derived forms of canny

cannily, adverbcanniness, noun

Word Origin for canny

C16: from can 1 (in the sense: to know how) + -y 1
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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