definitions

donkey

[ dong-kee, dawng-, duhng- ]
/ ˈdɒŋ ki, ˈdɔŋ-, ˈdʌŋ- /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR donkey ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural don·keys.

the domestic ass, Equus asinus.
(since 1874) a representation of this animal as the emblem of the U.S. Democratic Party.
a stupid, silly, or obstinate person.
a woodworking apparatus consisting of a clamping frame and saw, used for cutting marquetry veneers.

adjective

Machinery. auxiliary: donkey engine; donkey pump; donkey boiler.

RELATED CONTENT

Cleaner Than A Frog’s Armpit: Animal Sayings WorldwideRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE
What Does 🌯 Burrito Emoji Mean?Mmmmmm. The burrito emoji depicts a rolled up tortilla, with different platforms showing ingredients like beans and cheese poking out.
READ MORE

RELATED WORDS

horse, burro, mule, ass, pony, jackass, jenny, jennet, moke, maud, neddy

Nearby words

dongting, donicker, donizetti, donizetti, gaetano, donjon, donkey, donkey derby, donkey engine, donkey jacket, donkey topsail, donkey vote

Origin of donkey

1775–85; perhaps alteration of Dunkey, hypocoristic form of Duncan, man's name
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for donkey

British Dictionary definitions for donkey

donkey

/ (ˈdɒŋkɪ) /

noun

Also called: ass a long-eared domesticated member of the horse family (Equidae), descended from the African wild ass (Equus asinus)
a stupid or stubborn person
British slang, derogatory a footballer known for his or her lack of skillthe players are a bunch of overpriced and overrated donkeys
talk the hind leg(s) off a donkey to talk endlessly

Word Origin for donkey

C18: perhaps from dun dark + -key, as in monkey
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 donkey

donkey

n.

1785, originally slang, perhaps a diminutive from dun "dull gray-brown," the form perhaps influenced by monkey. Or possibly from a familiar form of Duncan (cf. dobbin). The older English word was ass (n.1).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Culture definitions for donkey

donkey

A symbol (see also symbol) of the Democratic party, introduced in a series of political cartoons by Thomas Nast during the congressional elections of 1874. (Compare elephant.)

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.