tawny

[ taw-nee ]

adjective

, taw·ni·er, taw·ni·est.

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

noun

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

tawny

/ ˈtɔːnɪ /

noun

1. 1. a light brown to brownish-orange colour
   2. ( as adjective )

      tawny port

Derived Forms

• ˈtawniness, noun

Other Words From

• tawni·ly adverb
• tawni·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tawny¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of tawny¹

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

Example Sentences

A nice aged tawny perhaps, though vin santo also comes to mind.

From Washington Post

It is built not in a long bun, but in a half-loaf of fresh, tawny-crusted Italian bread.

From The Daily Beast

I asked, watching buzzards, white-backed vultures, and tawny eagles corkscrew skyward on thermals.

From The 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.

From The 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.

From Project Gutenberg

That instant its tawny face scarred with black emerged from behind green leaves.

From Project Gutenberg

Here and there an oak stood, fully green, among the tawny reds and golds of a flaming woodland.

From Project Gutenberg

Underneath wisps of tawny hair, rather Mephistophelian, were clear-blue eyes, brilliant and sharp as a brigands.

From Project Gutenberg

Both men and women had long hair, ranging in color from black to tawny, and very clean and glistening.

From Project Gutenberg