jenny

[jen-ee]

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noun, plural jen·nies.

spinning jenny.

the female of certain animals, especially a female donkey or a female bird: a jenny wren.

Origin of jenny

First recorded in 1590–1600; generic use of Jenny, proper name

jenny

or jen·nie

[jen-ee]

noun, plural jen·nies. Nautical Slang.

genoa.

Origin of jenny

shortening and alteration of Genoa

Jennie

or Jen·ny

[jen-ee]

noun

a female given name, form of Jennifer.

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

Related Words for jenny

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

Examples from the Web for jenny

Contemporary Examples of jenny

Then the commercial weight loss behemoths Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig joined this crowded field.
Why Your New Year’s Diet Will Fail
Carrie Arnold
December 30, 2014
Will you work with Jenny Slate, John Daly, John Mulaney, etc. moving forward?
The Zany Shades of Nick Kroll
Abby Haglage
December 15, 2014
Liz G., one half of “Publizity” [the other half of which, Liz B, is played by Jenny Slate] is one of the best on the show.
The Zany Shades of Nick Kroll
Abby Haglage
December 15, 2014
Jenny Slate and Rosario Dawson make out at midnight because everything is beautiful and nothing hurts.
High-End Pervs Film Benedict Cumberbatch and Reese Witherspoon Sucking Face
Amy Zimmerman
December 11, 2014
Jenny Kutner, a 23-year-old writer for Salon, talked about her abortion after an IUD failure.
Women Share Their Secret Abortion Stories For 1 in 3 Campaign
Brandy Zadrozny
November 20, 2014

Historical Examples of jenny

My cousin Jenny Fynnett is here, and desires to be my bedfellow to-night.
Clarissa, Volume 2 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
"It's my own hair, Jenny Walters," said Dab, almost savagely.
St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and Girls, Vol. V, August, 1878, No 10.
Various
Claps on cover, runs and sits on sofa between Jenny and Bessie.
The Universal Reciter
Various
"Yes, but that isn't to say that he'll ever come back to her," said Jenny.
Capt'n Davy's Honeymoon
Hall Caine
"Why lift her up and kiss her, and forgive her, of course," said Jenny.
Capt'n Davy's Honeymoon
Hall Caine

British Dictionary definitions for jenny

jenny

noun plural -nies

a hand-operated machine for turning up the edge of a piece of sheet metal in preparation for making a joint

the female of certain animals or birds, esp a donkey, ass, or wren

short for spinning jenny

billiards snooker an in-offSee long jenny, short jenny

Word Origin for jenny

C17: from the name Jenny, diminutive of Jane

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 jenny

Jenny

fem. personal name, originally diminutive of Jane or Janet; attested from c.1600 as female equivalent of jack (n.), and like it applied to animals (e.g. Jenny wren, 1640s) and machinery (spinning jenny, 1783).