tawny

[ taw-nee ]

/ ˈtɔ ni /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: tawny / tawnies on Thesaurus.com

adjective, taw·ni·er, taw·ni·est.

of a dark yellowish or dull yellowish-brown color.

noun

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

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Sometimes taw·ney .

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”; see tan¹

OTHER WORDS FROM tawny

taw·ni·ly, adverbtaw·ni·ness, noun

Words nearby tawny

tawdry, tawheowheo, tawhiri, tawie, tawney, tawny, tawny owl, tawny pipit, tawpie, taws, tawse

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use tawny in a sentence

A nice aged tawny perhaps, though vin santo also comes to mind.
Old-guard vineyards take top honors at competitions in Maryland and Virginia, showcasing the region’s best|Dave McIntyre|March 12, 2021|Washington Post
It is built not in a long bun, but in a half-loaf of fresh, tawny-crusted Italian bread.
The Jersey Shore’s Biggest Weiners Are at Jimmy Buff’s|Jane & Michael Stern|June 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I asked, watching buzzards, white-backed vultures, and tawny eagles corkscrew skyward on thermals.
Walking With Wildebeests: Exploring the Serengeti on Foot|Joanna Eede|July 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I like a sweet, sparkling red like Brachetto, though if there are nuts involved, a nice tawny Port could be the perfect match.
Valentine's Day Wine and Chocolate Pairings|Snooth|February 11, 2011|DAILY BEAST

The bars of gold and light vibrated over the tawny waters, and darkness fell like a black sword, cutting the day from the night.
Kari the Elephant|Dhan Gopal Mukerji
That instant its tawny face scarred with black emerged from behind green leaves.
Kari the Elephant|Dhan Gopal Mukerji
Here and there an oak stood, fully green, among the tawny reds and golds of a flaming woodland.
Marriage la mode|Mrs. Humphry Ward
Underneath wisps of tawny hair, rather Mephistophelian, were clear-blue eyes, brilliant and sharp as a brigands.
The Woman Gives|Owen Johnson
Both men and women had long hair, ranging in color from black to tawny, and very clean and glistening.
The Stars, My Brothers|Edmond Hamilton

British Dictionary definitions for tawny

tawny

tawney

/ (ˈtɔːnɪ) /

noun

a light brown to brownish-orange colour
(as adjective)tawny port

Derived forms of tawny

tawniness, noun

Word Origin for tawny

C14: from Old French tané, from taner to tan 1

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

tawny

Origin of tawny

OTHER WORDS FROM tawny

Words nearby tawny

Words related to tawny

How to use tawny in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tawny

tawney

Derived forms of tawny

Word Origin for tawny