English Explanatory Dictionary

scrawny

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Thin, malnourished, and weak.

Pronunciation

/ˈskɹɔːni/ /ˈskɹɔni/ /ˈskɹɑni/ en-us-scrawny.ogg

Word forms

scrawny scrawnier scrawniest scranny

Etymology

A variant of dialectal scranny (“thin; lean; scraggy; poor; scanty; of inferior quality”), perhaps from Old Norse skran (“rubbish; junk”) + -y. Compare Norwegian skran (“lean, thin, skinny”), English scrannel (“lean; meager; poor; worthless”). Alternatively, perhaps from Old Norse skrælna (“to be shrivelled”).

Synonyms

angular anorexic carrion emaciated gangling gangly gaunt haggard macilent lank lanky leptosome pencil-necked puny rangy rawboned reedy scraggy scrawny skin and bones skinny starved thin as a rake undernourished underweight wasted weedy

Antonyms

heavy large obese overweight strapping

Related words

scran slender thin person

Derived words

scrawnily scrawniness scrawny drink of water
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