ninny
1Ninny — Nin ny, n.; pl. {Ninnies}. [Cf. It. ninno, ninna, a baby, Sp. ni[ n]o, ni[ n]a, child, infant, It. ninna, ninna nanna, lullably, prob. fr. ni, na, as used in singing a child to sleep.] A fool; a simpleton. Shak. [1913 Webster] …
2ninny — (n.) simpleton, fool, 1590s, perhaps a misdivision of an innocent (see N (Cf. N) for other examples), or from the pet form of the proper name INNOCENT (Cf. Innocent), with sense influenced by the name s literal meaning. There may be some… …
3ninny — ► NOUN (pl. ninnies) informal ▪ a foolish and weak person. ORIGIN perhaps from INNOCENT(Cf. ↑innocently) …
4ninny — [nin′ē] n. pl. ninnies [< (a)n inn(ocent) + Y2] a fool; dolt …
5ninny — UK [ˈnɪnɪ] / US noun [countable] Word forms ninny : singular ninny plural ninnies informal old fashioned a stupid person …
6Ninny — In use since the beginning of the seventeenth century as a term for a simpleton. The word probably derives from ‘innocent’. In Kipps, by H.G.Wells, ‘blundering ninny’ is used by Kipps’s uncle to address the hero. Mariana, by Monica Dickens,… …
7ninny — noun a silly or foolish person Ninny that soft, smiling, self effacing, apologetic fellow, the type who is terribly sorry when you happen to step on his foot, the kind you can borrow money from in the certainty he will never demand you repay it.… …
8ninny — [[t]nɪ̱ni[/t]] ninnies N COUNT (disapproval) If you refer to someone as a ninny, you think that they are foolish or silly. [INFORMAL, OLD FASHIONED] Syn: twit …
9ninny — /ˈnɪni / (say ninee) noun (plural ninnies) a fool; simpleton. {?; compare Ninny pet form of the name Innocent} …
10ninny — noun (plural ninnies) Etymology: perhaps by shortening & alteration from an innocent Date: 1593 fool, simpleton …
