English Explanatory Dictionary

donkey

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A domestic animal, Equus asinus asinus, similar to a horse.
  2. A stubborn person.
  3. A fool.
  4. A small auxiliary engine.
  5. A box or chest, especially a toolbox.
  6. A bad poker player.
  7. A sailor's storage chest.

Pronunciation

/ˈdɒŋ.ki/ en-uk-donkey.ogg /ˈdɑŋ.ki/ en-us-donkey.ogg

Word forms

donkey donkeys donkies

Etymology

The origin is uncertain. Originally a slang term from the late eighteenth century. Perhaps from Middle English *donekie (“a miniature dun horse”), a double diminutive of Middle English don, dun, dunne (a name for a dun horse), equivalent to modern English dun (“brownish grey colour”) + -ock (diminutive suffix) + -ie (diminutive suffix), or similarly formed from the given name Duncan. Compare Middle English donning (“a dun horse”), English dunnock. Became more common than the original term ass due to the latter's homophony and partial merger with arse (compare similar development between coney and rabbit).

Synonyms

Jerusalem pony donkey bulldog mule alcatote asshat arsehole asshole bayard berk birdbrain blither bobchin bonehead bozo buffoon brickhead Charlie chucklehead chowderhead chump clart clown der-brain dill pickle dim bulb dimwit dingleberry dipshit dipstick dirtbrain div divvo divvy dolt donk doodle doofus dope dork dote dotterel dullard dumbass dumbbell dumbo dumb fuck dummy dunce dunderhead dupe fathead fenderhead fiddle fuckwit fuzznut geck gig gink goober

Related words

ass mule hinny

Derived words

African wild donkey antidonkey Balkan donkey Buridan's donkey dead donkey donkey anaphora donkeyback donkey bean donkey bid donkey boiler donkey-boy donkey cock donkeycock donkeydick donkey dick donkey drop donkey ears donkey engine donkey fringe donkeyfucker donkeyhood donkeyish donkeyism donkey jacket donkey kick Donkey Kong donkeyman donkey orchid donkeypower donkey power donkey pronoun donkey pump donkey-punch donkey punch donkey rhubarb donkey route donkey's ears donkey sentence donkey's eye donkeyshit donkey shoe donkey show donkey stone donkey stool donkey's years donkey vote donkey voter donkey work donkra heavy as a dead donkey hung like a donkey jack donkey miniature donkey nodding donkey pin the tail on the donkey Sardinian donkey sea donkey Spanish donkey steam donkey suck donkey balls
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