noun
Common
jenny
JEH-nee
Jenny (noun) means a machine with multiple spindles used to spin thread from raw fiber, historically important to the textile industry (short for "spinning jenny"). Example: “The museum has a working jenny that shows how cotton thread was once made.”
noun
1
A machine with multiple spindles used to spin thread from raw fiber, historically important to the textile industry (short for "spinning jenny").
"The museum has a working jenny that shows how cotton thread was once made."
"Before the jenny, spinning was slow work done by hand at home."
"The spinning jenny let one worker spin several threads at once."
2
A female donkey (or, less commonly, a female of certain other animals such as a wren).
"The jenny stood quietly in the field beside her foal."
"Our neighbour keeps a jenny to guard the sheep from foxes."
"The farm had two jennies and one male donkey."
How to use jenny
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the historic spinning machine, or a female donkey.
Common pairings
spinning jenny
jenny and jack (female and male donkey)
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Word forms
- Plural
- jennies
- Third person singular
- jennies
- Past tense
- jennied
Fill the gap
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The museum has a working _____ that shows how cotton thread was once made.
Etymology
From the generic use of the female given name Jenny, and partly from informal pronunciations of "engine" (as in the spinning jenny).
Synonyms
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Rhymes for jenny
See all rhymes for jenny →Frequently asked questions
What does “jenny” mean?
The word “jenny” means a machine with multiple spindles used to spin thread from raw fiber, historically important to the textile industry (short for "spinning jenny"). In plain terms, either the historic spinning machine, or a female donkey.
How do you pronounce “jenny”?
“Jenny” is pronounced JEH-nee (/ˈd͡ʒɛni/ in IPA).
How do you use “jenny” in a sentence?
Here is “jenny” used in a sentence: “The spinning jenny let one worker spin several threads at once.”
What part of speech is “jenny”?
“Jenny” is a noun.
Is “jenny” a common word?
“Jenny” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “jenny” have?
“Jenny” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a machine with multiple spindles used to spin thread from raw fiber, historically important to the textile industry (short for "spinning jenny").
What is the difference between a "jenny" and a "jack" donkey?
A "jenny" is a female donkey, while a "jack" is a male donkey. Breeders often use this jenny-and-jack pairing to describe the two sexes and their roles.
What is a "spinning jenny"?
A spinning jenny is a machine with multiple spindles that spins thread from raw fibre, and "jenny" is a shortened name for it. It was historically important to the textile industry because it let one worker spin many threads at once.
What is the difference between a "jenny" and a "jennet"?
Both can refer to a female donkey, and the two words are closely related. "Jenny" is the more common everyday term, while "jennet" is a somewhat older or more formal variant.
Does "jenny" only refer to donkeys?
No. Besides meaning a female donkey, "jenny" is a short name for the spinning jenny, a multi-spindle spinning machine. It can also denote the female of certain other animals, such as a wren.
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