ca' canny

noun

ca' can·​ny kȯ-ˈka-nē How to pronounce ca' canny (audio)
British
ca' canny intransitive verb British

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Scots, "proceed warily, act cautiously" (imperative and infinitive), from ca' "to call, urge forward, drive, proceed" (Scots form of call entry 1) + canny "warily," from canny, adjective, "prudent, wary" (Scots senses of canny entry 1)

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ca' canny was in 1886

Dictionary Entries Near ca' canny

Cite this Entry

“Ca' canny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ca%27%20canny. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

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