English Explanatory Dictionary

carny

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A person who works in a carnival (often one who uses exaggerated showmanship or fraud).
  2. The jargon used by carnival workers.
  3. A carnival.
verb
  1. To cajole, wheedle, or coax.
noun
  1. Flattery.

Pronunciation

/ˈkɑː(ɹ)ni/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-carny.wav

Word forms

carny carnies carney carnie carnying carnied

Etymology

Clipping of carnival + -y (“diminutive, hypocoristic suffix”).

Synonyms

showie butter up inveigle sweet-talk blandander blandish cajole fast-talk canoodle carny coax collogue croodle engle fleech honey around honey up hum ingle soap soft-sawder soft-soap stroke tweedle twist wheedle whilly word blandishment sycophancy flattery incense adulation ass-kissing ass-licking gloze hoomalimali soft sawder sooth
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