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

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

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"Junk food was something that we looked up to because my granny didn't always have money, so it was a token of celebration."

Read more on BBC

"It's my home. It's my memories. It's my granny's apple trees on the yard. I've been here for all my life," she says.

Read more on BBC

This week saw a drugs ring run by a "gangsta" granny sent to prison, the preliminary report into last month's Air India disaster, and Prince George celebrate his 12th birthday.

Read more on BBC

When he moved out, Jamie went to live with his granny and one of his brothers.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• ancestor 
• grandma 
• matriarch