Cannier


careful; cautious; prudent:
a canny reply.
astute; shrewd; knowing; sagacious:
a canny negotiator.
skilled; expert.
frugal; thrifty:
a canny housewife.
Scot.

safe to deal with, invest in, or work at (usually used with a negative).
gentle; careful; steady.
snug; cozy; comfortable.
pleasing; attractive.
Archaic. having supernatural or occult powers.

in a canny manner.
Scot. carefully; cautiously.
Contemporary Examples

Writers Pick Their Favorite Philip Roth Novel The Daily Beast December 17, 2012

Historical Examples

The Kangaroo Hunters Anne Bowman
The Little Minister J. M. Barrie
Pirates’ Hope Francis Lynde

adjective -nier, -niest
shrewd, esp in business; astute or wary; knowing
(Scot & Northeast English, dialect) good or nice: used as a general term of approval
(Scot) lucky or fortunate
adverb
(Scot & Northeast English, dialect) quite; rather: a canny long while
adj.

The Canny Scot is so well known as scarcely to require description. He carries caution, cunning, and selfishness to excess. Deceitful when a purpose is to be accomplished, he is not habitually deceitful. One thing he never loses sight of–his own interest. But of his own interest he is not the most enlightened judge. [“The Natural History of Scotsmen,” in “The Argosy,” December 1865]

Related: Cannily; canniness.

Read Also:

  • Canny

    careful; cautious; prudent: a canny reply. astute; shrewd; knowing; sagacious: a canny negotiator. skilled; expert. frugal; thrifty: a canny housewife. Scot. safe to deal with, invest in, or work at (usually used with a negative). gentle; careful; steady. snug; cozy; comfortable. pleasing; attractive. Archaic. having supernatural or occult powers. in a canny manner. Scot. carefully; […]

  • Cannikin

    a small can or drinking cup. a small wooden bucket. Historical Examples The Mysteries of Paris, Volume 1 of 6 Eugne Sue noun a small can, esp one used as a drinking vessel

  • Cannily

    careful; cautious; prudent: a canny reply. astute; shrewd; knowing; sagacious: a canny negotiator. skilled; expert. frugal; thrifty: a canny housewife. Scot. safe to deal with, invest in, or work at (usually used with a negative). gentle; careful; steady. snug; cozy; comfortable. pleasing; attractive. Archaic. having supernatural or occult powers. in a canny manner. Scot. carefully; […]

  • Canniness

    careful; cautious; prudent: a canny reply. astute; shrewd; knowing; sagacious: a canny negotiator. skilled; expert. frugal; thrifty: a canny housewife. Scot. safe to deal with, invest in, or work at (usually used with a negative). gentle; careful; steady. snug; cozy; comfortable. pleasing; attractive. Archaic. having supernatural or occult powers. in a canny manner. Scot. carefully; […]

  • Canning

    the act, process, or business of preserving cooked food by sealing in cans or jars. Charles John, 1st Earl, 1812–62, British statesman: governor general of India 1856–62. his father, George, 1770–1827, British statesman: prime minister 1827. Sir Stratford, Stratford de Redcliffe, 1st Viscount. to be able to; have the ability, power, or skill to: She […]


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