Tawny Meaning
/ˈtɔːni/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Definition
adjOf a light brown to brownish orange colour; orangey brown tinged with gold.
verbTo cause (someone or something) to have a light brown to brownish orange colour; to tan, to tawn.
Sentence Examples
Synonyms & Antonyms
Word Origin & History
The adjective is derived from Middle English tauni, tawne (“having a brownish-orange colour”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman taune, tawné, and Old French tané, tanné, tanney (“of a tan colour”), an adjective use of the past participle of taner (“to turn hide into leather, tan”), from tan (“pulped oak bark used to tan leather, tanbark”), ultimately from Proto-Celtic *tannos (“green oak”); further etymology uncertain, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *(s)dʰnwos, *(s)dʰonu (“fir”). The -aw- spelling (also -au- in Middle English) seems to have been due to the pronunciation of Old French tané. The verb is derived from the adjective. Cognates * Breton tann * Medieval Latin tannāre (“to dye a tawny color; to tan”) * Old Irish caerthann (“rowan”)