dunny
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dunny¹
- /ˈdʌni/
Rhymes with -ʌni
Where it comes from
From dun (“dusky brown”) + -y (“forming adjectives of lesser degree”).
adjective dunnier · dunniest
- Somewhat dun, dusky brownish. I were skynnes of conny, / That causeth I loke so donny.
dunny²
Where it comes from
Probably from dun (“to ring”) + -y (“forming adjectives of lesser degree”).
adjective dunnier · dunniest
- Somewhat deaf, hard of hearing. Dunny, somewhat deaf, deafish.
- Slow to answer: stupid, unintelligent. What the devil are you dunny? won't you give me no answer?
noun dunnies
- A dummy, an unintelligent person. Should a School-boy do so, he'd be whip'd for a Dunny.
dunny³
Where it comes from
A clipped form of English cant dunnakin (“outhouse”) + -y (suffix forming affectionate diminutives). Dunnakin, dunnekin, etc. are of uncertain etymology, but probably from some form of English cant danna (“dung”) + ken (“house”, pejorative slang). The Scottish and North English senses may derive from Etymology 4 below, either under influence from English cant or as its original source.
noun dunnies · danna · dunnee
- Alternative form of danna: shit.danna
- An outhouse: an outbuilding used as a lavatory. "I've got one of those outside dunnies here, hasn't been emptied for six months and I ran out of sawdust three months ago."
- Any other place or fixture used for urination and defecation: a latrine; a lavatory; a toilet. The dunny was another place to go to get out of class. You got to go there by raising your hand in class and asking Miss if you could go to the lav.
- A passageway, particularly those connecting an outhouse to the main building.
dunny⁴
Where it comes from
A clipped form of English dungeon + -y (“forming affectionate diminutives”).
noun dunnies
- A cellar, basement, or underground passage.
