canny English · revision 1599

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkæni/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It was formed in Scottish and northern English from [[can]] in its older sense “to know, know how”^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) and the suffix [[-y]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) Etymonline calls it a doublet of [[cunning]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Knowing, wise, prudent (1637).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster dates it to 1596.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Scots the word took many senses: skilful, lucky, safe to deal with, quiet and gentle.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) From the 18th century it meant careful and frugal,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and from the early 19th, perhaps through Walter Scott's novels, cautious and shrewd.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) English writers often used it with a sneer for the supposed worldly caution of the Scots.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Wiktionary notes that ''canny'' and ''uncanny'' are no longer opposites in modern use.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1637 – knowing, prudent.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1718 – safe to meddle with, chiefly with a negative.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1725 – careful, frugal.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1785 – quiet and gentle in action.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1816 – shrewd in worldly matters.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Careful and [[shrewd]], especially in looking after one's own interests.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Careful with money; [[frugal]].^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(chiefly Scottish)'' Steady, gentle and restrained.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(chiefly Scottish)'' Snug and quiet.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cannily]]

+ * [[canniness]]

+ * [[ca' canny]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[uncanny]]

+ * [[cunning]]

+ * [[ken]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}