tawny

American  

[taw-nee] / ˈtɔ ni /

Sometimes tawney

adjective

tawnier, tawniest

1. of a dark yellowish or dull yellowish-brown color.

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noun

1. a shade of brown tinged with yellow; dull yellowish brown.

tawny British  

/ ˈtɔːnɪ /

noun

1. 1. a light brown to brownish-orange colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      tawny port

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Other Word Forms

• tawnily adverb
• tawniness noun

Etymology

Origin of tawny

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English tauny, from Anglo-French taune, from Middle French tané, past participle of taner “to tan”; tan ¹

Explanation

A color adjective, tawny describes something that is a mix of yellow, orange, and brown colors. A lion has a beautiful tawny coat. Tawny comes from the Anglo-Norman word, taune, which means tanned. Although you might think first of sun tans, which do indeed produce tawny colors in light-skinned people (as long as they don't go straight to lobster red), tan first meant the bark of an oak tree, used to cure leather. It's from the look of tanned leather that we get skin tans and the word tawny.

Example Sentences

Folan would often describe her early years of marriage and motherhood, in an idyllic white house in a tawny Connecticut suburb, as looking blissful on the surface.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Then, moments later, there she is again: Exiting the White House, coolly lethal in sunglasses, stilettos and a funnel neck MaxMara coat the color of a tawny marmalade.

From Salon • Nov. 9, 2025

Jake, a tawny 2-year-old mutt in L.A.’s West Valley shelter, wasn’t doing well.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 22, 2024

Sasha had been watching these tawny owlets for several days in a park near his home.

From BBC • Aug. 28, 2024

Besides being artsy, Tats also has tawny hair.

From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali