Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A Scotsman: a nickname due to the frequent use of the name Alexander in Scotland, or to the characteristic Scotch pronunciation of the abbreviation.
  • Soft; suave; somewhat deceitful or intended to persuade through excessive blandness.
  • Dawdling; idling.
  • noun A stupid, easy-going man.
  • noun A suave, soft-spoken, artful person.

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

  • noun a fool, an idiot
  • adjective foolish, stupid

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Local variant of the personal name Sandy.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word sawney.

Examples

  • "Girls," suddenly asked Bess, "who ever started that lumberman's slang of 'sawney' for 'greenhorn' up in this hall of acquired good

    Nan Sherwood at Rose Ranch Annie Roe Carr

  • Edward Morris 5:32 pm: yes. or the tale of sawney beane. mine are from central p.a. the sollenheims

    Transcript: Writing Paganism and Non-Christian Religions « Coyote Con 2010

  • "Have a care, sawney," declared Amelia Boggs sternly.

    Nan Sherwood at Rose Ranch Annie Roe Carr

  • But the other girls -- at least, some of them -- meant to make the newcomer feel keenly her position as a "sawney."

    Nan Sherwood at Rose Ranch Annie Roe Carr

  • "Let the sawney climb the ship's taffrail and be plunged into the sea."

    Nan Sherwood at Rose Ranch Annie Roe Carr

  • "Out on the plank, sawney!" commanded Amelia from below.

    Nan Sherwood at Rose Ranch Annie Roe Carr

  • “Thank you, Miss, ” said Bob, lifting his cap and showing a delighted face, but immediately relieving himself of some accompanying embarrassment by looking down at his dog, and saying in a tone of disgust, “Get out wi’ you, you thunderin’ sawney!

    III. A Voice from the Past. Book IV—The Valley of Humiliation 1917

  • Considered to be, as far as any work is, unskilled labour. sawney: silly, gormless scab: see blackleg shout: In a group; to stand (pay for) a round of drinks.

    Children of the Bush Henry Lawson 1894

  • Well, it seemed a silly explanation, but he talked as if he had been weaned by an automatic machine, and I was sawney enough to listen to him.

    Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow 1893

  • "Thank you, Miss," said Bob, lifting his cap and showing a delighted face, but immediately relieving himself of some accompanying embarrassment by looking down at his dog, and saying in a tone of disgust, "Get out wi 'you, you thunderin' sawney!"

    The Mill on the Floss George Eliot 1849

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.