- scrawny
-
adjective
(scrawnier; -est)
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: 1833
exceptionally thin and slight or meager in body or size <scrawny scrub cattle> Synonyms: see lean • scrawniness noun
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
scrawny
Look at other dictionaries:
Scrawny — Scraw ny, a. [Cf. {Scrannel}.] Meager; thin; rawboned; bony; scranny. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
scrawny — 1833, apparently a dialectal variant of scranny lean, thin (1820), which is of uncertain origin, perhaps from O.N. skrælna to shrivel … Etymology dictionary
scrawny — skinny, lank, lanky, *lean, spare, gaunt, raw boned, angular Analogous words: *thin, slim, slender: *meager, exiguous Antonyms: brawny: fleshy: obese … New Dictionary of Synonyms
scrawny — [adj] unhealthily thin angular, bony, gaunt, lank, lanky, lean, rawboned, scraggy, skeletal, skin and bones*, skinny, spare, undernourished, underweight; concepts 490,491,773 Ant. chubby, fat, healthy, plump … New thesaurus
scrawny — ► ADJECTIVE (scrawnier, scrawniest) ▪ unattractively thin and bony. ORIGIN variant of dialect scranny … English terms dictionary
scrawny — [skrô′nē] adj. scrawnier, scrawniest [prob. var. of dial. scranny, lean, thin < Scand base > SCRANNEL] 1. very thin; skinny and bony 2. stunted or scrubby scrawniness n … English World dictionary
scrawny — scraw|ny [ˈskro:ni US ˈskro: ] adj [Date: 1800 1900; Origin: scranny thin (1800 1900), probably from a Scandinavian language] a scrawny person or animal looks very thin and weak ▪ a scrawny kid in jeans and a T shirt ▪ a few scrawny hens … Dictionary of contemporary English
scrawny — [[t]skrɔ͟ːni[/t]] scrawnier, scrawniest ADJ GRADED (disapproval) If you describe a person or animal as scrawny, you mean that they look unattractive because they are so thin. ...a scrawny woman with dyed black hair... The vulture extended his… … English dictionary
scrawny — UK [ˈskrɔːnɪ] / US [ˈskrɔnɪ] adjective Word forms scrawny : adjective scrawny comparative scrawnier superlative scrawniest very thin, in a way that is not attractive or healthy a scrawny half starved dog … English dictionary
scrawny — scrawnily, adv. scrawniness, n. /skraw nee/, adj., scrawnier, scrawniest. excessively thin; lean; scraggy: a long, scrawny neck. [1825 35, Amer.; var. of dial. scranny < Norw skran lean + Y1] Syn. gaunt, emaciated. Ant. fleshy, plump. * * * … Universalium
