Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Having long slender limbs.
  • adjective Inclined to rove.
  • adjective Providing ample range; roomy.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Said of an animal, especially a cow, which has a long and small barrel or body and narrow hind quarters, with unusual space between the front and hind legs. A rangy cow may be good for beef, but is poor for dairy purposes.
  • Mountainous.
  • In stock-breeding, adapted for ranging or running about, or indicating such adaptation; quick or easy in movement; of roving character or capability: as, a rangy yoke of oxen (that is, good travelers, capable of making good speed, as in plowing); rangy steers (that is, steers disposed to wander away to a distance, as on a stock-range).
  • Having or permitting range or scope; roomy: commodious.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Inclined or able to range, or rove about, for considerable distances; apt or suited for much roving, -- chiefly used of cattle.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Slender and long of limb; lanky
  • adjective Prone to roaming around with animal-like movements.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective tall and thin and having long slender limbs
  • adjective allowing ample room for ranging
  • adjective adapted to wandering or roaming

Etymologies

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Examples

  • He's long-limbed and rangy, which is the new Jewish look that will replace the old look of the ghetto — just check out pictures of the boys in the Israeli Army.

    'Hello! It's Sexy Time!' Cohen, Rich 2006

  • He's long-limbed and rangy, which is the new Jewish look that will replace the old look of the ghetto — just check out pictures of the boys in the Israeli Army.

    'Hello! It's Sexy Time!' Cohen, Rich 2006

  • The hot-air system works better with compact square houses than with long, "rangy" structures.

    The Home Medical Library, Volume V (of VI) Kenelm Winslow

  • The result has the kind of rangy nervous energy that can make a review dramatic, instructive, and great fun to read.

    The New Yorker Ian Crouch 2011

  • The plant has a "rangy" habit and does well planted at the foot of a wall or in a stump, where the long shoots can trail over an edge.

    unknown title 2009

  • "rangy" and "powerful" and said that he got hit more than he should have in his win against Jean Pascal to win the title but that was simply because he was so excited to fight for the WBC belt.

    BoxingScene.com 2009

  • You can almost see why she wants Lt. Joseph Cable the rangy, lyrical tenor Daniel Koek as her son-in-law.

    Falling in Love With the Barbican's Wonderful 'South Pacific' Paul Levy 2011

  • The rangy Russian opted for surgery in November after a nagging issue got so bad he couldn't play through it any longer.

    It's Hall ... it's Seguin ... now it's Hall back in the lead! 2009

  • He shouldered his way into the room, his tall, rangy frame effectively blocking escape.

    Earl of Durkness Alix Rickloff 2011

  • I saw the light of transformation spread this time, starting with the skin over his chest and moving to the long, rangy limbs.

    How to Flirt with A Naked Werewolf Molly Harper 2011

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