Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for canny on Thesaurus.com adjective, can·ni·er, can·ni·est. careful; cautious; prudent: a canny reply. astute; shrewd; knowing; sagacious: a canny negotiator. skilled; expert. frugal; thrifty: a canny housewife. Scot. safe to deal with, invest in, or work at (usually used with a negative). gentle; careful; steady. snug; cozy; comfortable. pleasing; attractive. Archaic having supernatural or occult powers. Show More
in a canny manner. Scot. carefully; cautiously. Show More
Origin of canny First recorded in
1630–40; can1 +
-y1 Related forms can·ni·ness , noun o·ver·can·ny , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for canny ingenious ,
cautious ,
wise ,
sly ,
adroit ,
skillful ,
shrewd ,
frugal ,
discreet ,
cagey ,
judicious ,
subtle ,
prudent ,
intelligent ,
astute ,
able ,
acute ,
careful ,
circumspect ,
cunning Examples from the Web for canny Contemporary Examples of canny Ever canny if uninspiring, John Boehner admitted as much in his recent remarks.
But he was a canny political operator, far less ideological and more coldly pragmatic than proponents liked to admit.
A wavering, but canny Wehrmacht General Dietrich von Choltitz finally surrendered it on August 25.
That is admirable, and Preserve is clever, or at least canny .
All of it is so canny we can only wonder why no one had said these things before.
Historical Examples of canny He said it was "Kahore pai;" or, as a Scotsman would put it, "no canny ."
So reasoned the canny Scot, but he held his tongue to his Lilias.
And old Angus wagged his head and said, "Canny lass, the widdy!"
Turning, I found the canny swain had followed me on an investigating tour.
It might be a good thing, said the canny Scot, to back him up and reap the benefit.
British Dictionary definitions for canny 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 Show More
Scot and Northeast English dialect quite; rather a canny long while Show More
Derived Forms cannily , adverb canniness , 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
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Word Origin and History for canny adj. 1630s, Scottish and northern English formation from can (v.1) in its sense of "know how to," + -y (2). "Knowing," hence, "careful." A doublet of cunning that flowed into distinct senses. Often used superciliously of Scots by their southern neighbors (and their American cousins).
The Canny Scot is so well known as scarcely to require description. He carries caution, cunning, and selfishness to excess. Deceitful when a purpose is to be accomplished, he is not habitually deceitful. One thing he never loses sight of--his own interest. But of his own interest he is not the most enlightened judge. ["The Natural History of Scotsmen," in "The Argosy," December 1865] Related: Cannily ; canniness .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
