granny

Or gran·nie

[gran-ee]

noun

plural

grannies 

1. Informal.,  a grandmother.

2. an elderly woman.

3. a fussy person.

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

5. granny knot.

adjective

grannier, granniest 

1. of, relating to, or thought to be like a grandmother or an elderly or old-fashioned woman.

   granny notions about what's proper.

2. (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.

granny

/ ˈɡrænɪ /

noun

1. informal words for grandmother

2. informal,  an irritatingly fussy person

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

4. a midwife or nurse

5. See granny knot

Word History and Origins

Origin of granny¹

1655–65; grand(mother) + -y ², with -nd- > -nn-

Example Sentences

From her embarrassing work mishaps, to her infamous granny pants, Bridget spoke to a generation who saw themselves in her - and has recently won over a whole new set of younger fans too.

Read more on BBC

"Being around children keeps you young. Happy kids, happy mums, happy grannies!"

Read more on BBC

“Be a good boy,” Seidel said, “and in two days from now you’ll be sitting on your granny’s lap.”

Read more on Literature

Kids are chatting or walking—solo, in pairs or trios—and a mother or granny holds a girl’s hand, probably waiting for an older sibling to come out of school.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Her boss knows she travels a lot, often as the granny on call.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• ancestor 
• grandma 
• matriarch