granny

or gran·nie

[ gran-ee ]

/ ˈgræn i /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR granny ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural gran·nies.

Informal. a grandmother.

an elderly woman.

a fussy person.

Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. a nurse or midwife.

granny knot.

adjective, gran·ni·er, gran·ni·est for 6.

of, relating to, or thought to be like a grandmother or an elderly or old-fashioned woman: granny notions about what's proper.

(of clothing for women or girls) being loose-fitted and having such features as high necklines, puff sleeves, long skirts, and ruffles and lace trimmings: a granny blouse; a granny nightgown.

Nearby words

Origin of granny

1655–65; grand(mother) + -y², with -nd- > -nn-

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for granny

I was aware of it when I was a girl and I often asked Granny about it, but she was very quiet and never said anything.
Kate Middleton’s Code-Breaking Granny: Duchess Uncovers Wartime Secrets|Tim Teeman|June 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
My Granny the Escort concludes with two of the women reaching a crossroads of sorts.
‘My Granny The Escort’: Meet 85-Year-Old Sheila Vogel-Coupe, Britain’s Oldest Prostitute|Marlow Stern|June 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Unlike his granny, Harry does carry cash, and paid for his own ticket and those of his staff.
Harry Visits Colosseum - And Pays For His Own Ticket!|Tom Sykes|May 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"He called me granny," the actress told Kate, according to a report on Sky News.
Helen Mirren Shakes a Finger At The Queen!|Tom Sykes|February 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Harry had better come back with a clean chin or else granny will not be pleased.
Prince Harry Ordered to Shave His Polar Beard|Tom Sykes|January 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They were at the deserted hut now; and Granny Dale got down and took the trembling beast out of the shafts, and led him in.
Into the Highways and Hedges|F. F. Montrsor (Frances Frederica)
"No, granny, I haven't never picked up a piece," Duncan replied.
Little Folks (July 1884)|Various
Granny couldn't wait for him to put a period to his sentence.
Rebecca's Promise|Frances R. Sterrett
Joe was delighted with every thing, and told Granny that if he wasn't so tall he should surely stand on his head, out of pure joy.
The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe|Amanda Minnie Douglas
Granny guessed three sums, and each time Maida said, triumphantly, More!
Maida's Little Shop|Inez Haynes Irwin

British Dictionary definitions for granny

granny

grannie

/ (ˈɡrænɪ) /

noun plural -nies

informal words for grandmother

informal an irritatingly fussy person

a revolving cap on a chimneypot that keeps out rain, etc

Southern US a midwife or nurse

See granny knot

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 granny

granny

1660s, according to OED, most likely a diminutive and contraction of grannam, shortened form of grandame, rather than from grandmother. The sailor's granny knot (by 1803, originally granny's knot, so called because "it is the natural knot tied by women or landsmen" [Smyth, "Sailor's Word-Book," 1867]. Granny Smith apples (1895) named for Maria Ann Smith (d.1870) of Australia, who originated them.