sonsy

American  

[son-see] / ˈsɒn si /

Also sonsie.

adjective

Scot. and North England, Irish English.

sonsier, sonsiest

1. strong and healthy; robust.

2. agreeable; good-natured.

---

sonsy British  

/ ˈsɒnsɪ /

adjective

1. plump; buxom; comely

2. cheerful; good-natured

3. lucky

---

Etymology

Origin of sonsy

1525–35; sonse “prosperity, good fortune” ( Middle English ( Scots ) < Scots Gaelic sonas, Middle Irish sonus, derivative of sona “prosperous, happy,” Old Irish son ) + -y ¹ ( def. ); cf. donsie

Example Sentences

There was just one other inmate of this sequestered apartment—a large, sonsy, gaucy cat.

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 16 by Various

Don't be sorry!—" said Faith, looking as fearless and sonsy as any real piece of mignonette that ever shook its brown head in the wind;—"I wouldn't tell you, only you must see it.

From Say and Seal, Volume II by Warner, Susan

I know it will be said of Lord Lufton himself that, putting aside his peerage and broad acres, and handsome, sonsy face, he was not worth a girl's care and love.

From Framley Parsonage by Trollope, Anthony

David, as he trudged sorrowfully homeward across the fields, carried with him the mental picture of a plump, sonsy woman, in a trim dress of plum-coloured homespun and ruffled blue-check apron, haloed by candlelight.

From Lucy Maud Montgomery Short Stories, 1909 to 1922 by Montgomery, L. M. (Lucy Maud)

Sometimes it was the rickety, black-timbered porch, garlanded with vine; a sonsy, blond-haired young Flemish maiden sat there, and twirled the bobbins on a lace-cushion, in a warm yellow flicker of sunshine.

From The Catholic World; Volume I, Issues 1-6 A Monthly Eclectic Magazine by Rameur, E.