scrawny

  • 1Scrawny — Scraw ny, a. [Cf. {Scrannel}.] Meager; thin; rawboned; bony; scranny. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2scrawny — 1833, apparently a dialectal variant of scranny lean, thin (1820), which is of uncertain origin, perhaps from O.N. skrælna to shrivel …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 3scrawny — skinny, lank, lanky, *lean, spare, gaunt, raw boned, angular Analogous words: *thin, slim, slender: *meager, exiguous Antonyms: brawny: fleshy: obese …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 4scrawny — [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

  • 5scrawny — ► ADJECTIVE (scrawnier, scrawniest) ▪ unattractively thin and bony. ORIGIN variant of dialect scranny …

    English terms dictionary

  • 6scrawny — [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

  • 7scrawny — 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

  • 8scrawny — [[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

  • 9scrawny — 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

  • 10scrawny — 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