conn

[kon]

verb (used with object)

con³(def 1).

noun

responsibility for the steering of a ship.
con³(defs 2, 3).

Origin of conn

First recorded in 1800–10

con

or conn

[kon]Nautical

verb (used with object), conned, con·ning.

to direct the steering of (a ship).

noun

the station of the person who cons.
the act of conning.

Origin of con

1350–1400; earlier cond, apocopated variant of Middle English condie, condue < Middle French cond(u)ire < Latin condūcere to conduct

Conn.

Connecticut(def 1).

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for conn

Contemporary Examples of conn

Conn has never had a showcase of the photos all together, but he hopes to one day have the entire collection published as a book.
Nightmarish Scenes from New York's Subway
Seth Michael Donsky
June 11, 2009
Even though we could be married in Mass. or Conn, Canada, Holland, Spain and a handful of other countries, this is our home.
You Can Forget My Taxes
Melissa Etheridge
November 6, 2008

Historical Examples of conn

Conn yelled at the others, who were also becoming hysterical.
The Cosmic Computer
Henry Beam Piper
"It sure is, Conn," the town marshal agreed, then lowered his voice.
The Cosmic Computer
Henry Beam Piper
"Conn, they wouldn't have believed you and Foxx Travis," he said.
The Cosmic Computer
Henry Beam Piper
He managed, while talking, to comment on the cut of Conn's suit, and finger the material.
The Cosmic Computer
Henry Beam Piper
"We could use a regiment, Conn," Tom Brangwyn said seriously.
The Cosmic Computer
Henry Beam Piper

British Dictionary definitions for conn

conn

verb, noun

a variant spelling (esp US) of con 4

Conn

noun

2nd century ad, king of Leinster and high king of Ireland

Conn.

abbreviation for

Connecticut

con

noun

1. short for confidence trick
2. (as modifier)con man

verb cons, conning or conned

(tr) to swindle or defraud

Word Origin for con

C19: from confidence

con

noun (usually plural)

an argument or vote against a proposal, motion, etc
a person who argues or votes against a proposal, motion, etc

Compare pro 1See also pros and cons

Word Origin for con

from Latin contrā against, opposed to

con

noun

slang short for convict

con

⁴

esp US conn

nautical

verb cons, conns, conning or conned

(tr) to direct the steering of (a vessel)

noun

the place where a person who cons a vessel is stationed

Word Origin for con

C17 cun, from earlier condien to guide, from Old French conduire, from Latin condūcere; see conduct

con

⁵

verb cons, conning or conned

(tr) archaic to study attentively or learn (esp in the phrase con by rote)

Word Origin for con

C15: variant of can 1 in the sense: to come to know

con

⁶

preposition

music with

Word Origin for con

Italian

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

Word Origin and History for conn

con

n.1

"negation" (mainly in pro and con), 1570s, short for Latin contra "against" (see contra).

con

n.2

"study," early 15c., from Old English cunnan "to know, know how" (see can (v.1)).

con

adj.

"swindling," 1889, American English, from confidence man (1849), from the many scams in which the victim is induced to hand over money as a token of confidence. Confidence with a sense of "assurance based on insufficient grounds" dates from 1590s.

con

v.1

"to guide ships," 1620s, from French conduire "to conduct, lead, guide" (10c.), from Latin conducere (see conduce). Related: Conned; conning.

con

v.2

"to swindle," 1896, from con (adj.). Related: Conned; conning.

con

n.3

a slang or colloquial shortening of various nouns beginning in con-, e.g., from the 19th century, confidant, conundrum, conformist, convict, contract, and from the 20th century, conductor, conservative.