different between crafty vs canny

English

Etymology

From Middle English crafti, crefti, from Old English cræfti? (“ingenious; skilful; crafty; cunning; virtuous; powerful”), from Proto-Germanic *kraftagaz, *kraftugaz (“powerful”), equivalent to craft +? -y. Cognate with Saterland Frisian kräftich, West Frisian krêftich, Dutch krachtig, German Low German krachtig, German kräftig.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?k?æfti/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /?k???fti/

Adjective

crafty (comparative craftier, superlative craftiest)

1. Relating to, or characterized by, craft or skill; dexterous.
2. Possessing dexterity; skilled; skillful.
3. Skillful at deceiving others; characterized by craft

   Synonyms: cunning, wily

   • For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.

   • 22 March 2012, Scott Tobias, AV Club The Hunger Games[1]

     Together, with the help of the drunkard Haymitch (Woody Harrelson), the only District 12 citizen ever to win the Games, they challenge tributes that range from sadistic volunteers to crafty kids like the pint-sized Rue (Amandla Stenberg) to the truly helpless and soon-to-be-dead.

4. Sneaky; surreptitious.

   I took a crafty look at his hand of cards while he was out of the room.

Synonyms

• (skillful): See also Thesaurus:skilled
• (cunning, wily): See also Thesaurus:wily

Translations

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?kæni/
• Rhymes: -æni
• Homophone: kanny

Etymology 1

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, Old English cann (“knowledge, assertion”). More at can, cunning.

Adjective

canny (comparative cannier, superlative canniest)

1. Careful, prudent, cautious.
   • 1723-1737, Allan Ramsay, "Love Inviting Reason", in The Tea-Table Miscellany

     O ! as thou art bonny , be prudent and canny,
     And think on thy Jamie wha dotes upon thee

2. Knowing, shrewd, astute.
3. Frugal, thrifty.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:frugal

   • 1751, Allan Ramsay, The Gentle Shepherd, in Poems by Allan Ramsay (1751 edition):

     Whate'er he wins, I'll guide with canny care.

4. (Scotland, Northumbria) Pleasant, fair, favorable or agreeable to deal with.
   • 1783, Robert Burns, "Green Grow the Rashes O", Songs and Ballads

     But gie me a cannie hour at e'en,
     

     My arms about my dearie O;
     

     An' warl'y cares, an' warl'y men,
     

     Mae a' gae tapsalteerie O!

5. (Scotland, Northumbria) Gentle, quiet, steady.

Usage notes

In common modern usage, canny and uncanny are no longer antonyms, although they are not synonyms.

Derived terms

• cannily
• canniness

Related terms

Translations

Adverb

canny (not comparable)

1. (Northumbria) Very, considerably; quite, rather.

2. (Scotland, Northumbria) Gently, quietly; carefully, skilfully.

Translations

References

• Frank Graham (1987) The New Geordie Dictionary, ?ISBN
• Newcastle 1970s, Scott Dobson and Dick Irwin, [2]
• Northumberland Words, English Dialect Society, R. Oliver Heslop, 1893–4
• Todd's Geordie Words and Phrases, George Todd, Newcastle, 1977[3]

Etymology 2

can (“more or less cylindrical metal container”) +? -y

Adjective

canny

1. (especially of sound) Sounding as if it is coming through a tin can.
   • 1998 August 20, Kallel, Four speakers are a pain in the ass ;P, in 3dfx.products.voodoo2:

     The rear sounds sounded canny compared to the front ones. And you also have to adjust the volume so both pair of speakers are at the same level, […]

   • 2000 October 17, "Dreamin Man" (username), Lexicon MPX 100?, in rec.audio.pro, Usenet:

     I am using the stereo outs, I am getting nice reverb out of it but the probelm^[sic] is the entire sound is like i said like its coming through a can. even when in bypass mode it sound "canny".

     Thank you for your input.

     Stacey

   • 2001 October 8, Philippe, Antwerp - what a disappointment !!!!, in alt.music.depeche-mode, Usenet:

     I was approch. 3 meters from the stage and the sound was very good from there. But if you had seats way up at the sides or at the back I can understand that you could have experienced a "canny" sound.

   • 2006 March 23, "The Chris" (username), Re: Best Distortion Under $100, in alt.guitar, Usenet:

     The metal zone is too 'canny'.... Boss has a handful of great distortions - DS-1, Mega Distortion, DS-2, Heavy Metal....

   • 2010 May 24, [email protected], FlipHD Saturday SECTR5 LittleWing, in alt.guitar, Usenet:

     Not bad.. Although I think the 290 might have a slight edge on video crispness, I think the audio is better on the ultra HD. Hear more low end, and slightly less canny sounding from what I can tell.

Anagrams

• Nancy, nancy

Scots

Alternative forms

• cannie

Etymology

From the verb can (“to know”), 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”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kan?/, /k??n?/

Adjective

canny (comparative mair canny, superlative maist canny)

1. careful, cautious, prudent or steady
2. comfortable, gentle or cozy
3. attractive or pleasing
4. skilful, safe to work or deal with
5. fortunate, lucky
6. frugal, sparing
7. (archaic) with supernatural or occult powers

Adverb

canny (comparative mair canny, superlative maist canny)

1. carefully, cautiously

Related terms

• ca canny