Added 9 October 2026
canny
/ˈkæni/ adjective
adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about canny at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others.
a cagey lawyer
Origin
Northern English dialect, from can (“to know”) ( + -y), from Middle English can, first and third person singular of cunnen, connen (“to be able, know how to”), from Old English cunnan (“to know how to, be able to”). Compare Scots canny, English cunny, Old English cann (“knowledge, assertion”). More at can, cunning.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)