Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A disease of horses, in which the mouth is so furred that they cannot eat.
  • To insinuate one's self into the good graces of; flatter; wheedle.
  • To interlard one's discourse with hypocritical terms or tones of flattery or endearment.
  • noun Flattering, hypocritical talk; flattery.

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

  • noun (Far.) A disease of horses, in which the mouth is so furred that the afflicted animal can not eat.

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

  • noun A disease of horses, in which the mouth is so furred that the afflicted animal can not eat.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • In round one, Harry misses two of three, but the carney is a nice guy and a quick talker.

    TravelPod.com TravelStream™ — Recent Entries at TravelPod.com 2009

  • In Roustabout, the ghastly Elvis film of 1964, the only interesting sequence occurs when Elvis, who has fallen in among "carney" (or carnival) folk, is challenged to ride what he insists on calling his "motor-sickle" around the wall of death.

    My kids drive me up the wall 2010

  • This administration is one big "carney" atmosphere; filled with lies, obfuscations, euphemisms, and shill games.

    msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines 2011

  • “This is for you,” the carney says, handing me the Nickelback mirror.

    Soul Trapper F. J. Lennon 2011

  • The carney hands the girl in the wheelchair a small white bear with a green vest and a shamrock on his belly.

    Soul Trapper F. J. Lennon 2011

  • Yes | No | Report from Reid Jones wrote 38 weeks 2 days ago carney-you're correct. but pumps and levers aren't my idea big game rifle. levers are okay, pumps-NO. they're fast, but like WA said, PUMPS AND LEVERS ARE CHAMBERED IN CALIBERS THAT YOU WILL NEED FOLLOW UP SHOT. bolt actions are a more reliable shot, better calibers, yeah. with a bolt, you shouldnt need a follow up shot if you've been practicing.

    Best Elk Rifle? 2009

  • Yes | No | Report from Reid Jones wrote 38 weeks 2 days ago carney-you're correct. but pumps and levers aren't my idea big game rifle. levers are okay, pumps-NO. they're fast, but like WA said, PUMPS AND LEVERS ARE CHAMBERED IN CALIBERS THAT YOU WILL NEED FOLLOW UP SHOT. bolt actions are a more reliable shot, better calibers, yeah. with a bolt, you shouldnt need a follow up shot if you've been practicing.

    Best Elk Rifle? 2009

  • “Five bucks, ten darts,” says the carney, a kid with a mop of black hair and a Cal State Northridge hoodie.

    Soul Trapper F. J. Lennon 2011

  • “Five bucks, ten darts,” says the carney, a kid with a mop of black hair and a Cal State Northridge hoodie.

    Soul Trapper F. J. Lennon 2011

  • The carney snatches the money from my hand, clears out a couple of teenagers from inside, and ropes off the entrance.

    Soul Trapper F. J. Lennon 2011

Comments

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  • 'Sometimes he was conscious of a detestable adroitness in his relations with women; it was not respectful; it was half-brother to the carneying art of the seducer...'

    - Rebecca West, The Judge

    July 23, 2009