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

Example Sentences

It was a woman with warm tawny skin flushed pink at the cheeks, as if she had just been running.

From Literature

A tawny motorcycle whizzes by and suddenly stops.

From Literature

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

In the picturesque community of Eddington, among the tawny deserts and quaint antique shops, things are quickly coming apart at the seams during the final weeks of May 2020.

From Salon

Raised in Fife, with its tawny beaches and sleepy fishing villages, a career in music was a distant dream.

From BBC