Downy Meaning
/ˈdaʊni/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjHaving down, covered with a soft fuzzy coating as of small feathers or hair.
adjSharp-witted, perceptive.
Sentence Examples
The duckling's downy feathers made it look like a tiny ball of sunshine.
A layer of downy frost covered the grass in the early morning light.
The peach's downy skin glowed softly in the summer sun.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The baby's ____ hair felt incredibly soft under the mother's fingertips.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The duckling's ____ feathers made it look like a tiny ball of sunshine.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Old English of- Proto-Germanic *dūnaz? Proto-Indo-European *dewh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Indo-European *duh₂-nós? Proto-Celtic *dūnomder.? Proto-West Germanic *dūnā Old English dūne Old English ofdūne Old English adūne Old English dūne Middle English doun English down Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y English -y English downy From down + -y.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The right hon. Gentleman has much more claim to the adjective downy than I have, but he really cannot catch me with that one."
— 1947, Sir David Maxwell Fyfe, Speech in UK House of Commons, 10th November 1947
"I’m not clever, p’raps: but I am rather downy; and partial friends say I know what’s o’clock tolerably well."
— 1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 10, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC:
"Went to bed with 2 downies on the bed, but the heat finally kicked in and ended with one cover and my feet sticking out."
— 2013, Dorothy M. Jensen, The Little Girl From 311 Travis Street, page 246:
""Lord love you, Mr. Scott, I've a deal to do before I get to my downy; and I don't like those doctored tipples. Good night, Mr. Scott; I wishes you good night, sir;" and making another slight reference to his hat, which had not been removed from his head during the whole interview, Mr. Manylodes took himself off."
— 1857, Anthony Trollope, The Three Clerks, volume I, London: Richard Bentley, page 181:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The baby's ____ hair felt incredibly soft under the mother's fingertips.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The duckling's ____ feathers made it look like a tiny ball of sunshine.