An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language Part 141
/An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language
An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language Part 141
CANNIE, KANNIE, _adj._
1. Cautious, prudent, S.
_Baillie._
2. Artful, crafty, S.
_Rutherford._
3. Attentive, wary, watchful, S.
_Ramsay._
4. Frugal, not given to expence, S.
_Burns._
5. Moderate in charges, S.
6. Useful, beneficial, S.
_Ross._
7. Handy, expert at any business; often used in relation to midwifery, S.
_Forbes._
8. Gentle, so as not to hurt a sore, S.
9. Soft, easy, as applied to a state of rest, S.
_Ramsay._
10. Slow in motion. "To gang _canny_," to move slowly; "to caw _canny_,"
to drive softly; also, to manage with frugality, S.
_Burns._
11. Soft and easy in motion, S.
12. Safe, not dangerous. "A _canny_ horse," one that may be rode with safety, S.
_Burns._
_No canny_, not safe, dangerous, S.
_Popul. Ball._
13. Composed, deliberate; as opposed to _flochtry_, _throwther_, S.
14. Not hard, not difficult of execution, S.
_Burns._
15. Easy in situation, snug, comfortable; as "He sits very _canny_." "He has a braw _canny_ seat," S.
_Ramsay._
16. Fortunate, lucky, S.
_Pennecuik._
17. Fortunate, used in a superst.i.tious sense, S.
_R. Galloway._
_No canny_, not fortunate, applied both to things and to persons.
_Ramsay._
18. Endowed with knowledge, supposed by the vulgar to proceed from a preternatural origin; possessing magical skill, South of S.
_Tales Landl._
19. Good, worthy, "A braw _canny_ man," a pleasant, good-conditioned, or worthy man, S.
_Statist. Acc._
20. Applied to any instrument, it signifies well-fitted, convenient, S.
B.
_Survey Nairn._
Isl. _kiaen_, sciens, prudens; callidus, astutus; _kaeni_, fortis et prudens; from _kenn-a_, noscere.
~Cannie Wife~, a midwife, South of S.
_Cromek._
~Cannily~, adv.
1. Cautiously, prudently, S.
_Baillie._
2. Moderately, not violently, S.