shanty
Shanty (noun) means a small, roughly built hut or shack, often makeshift. Example: “The fishermen kept their gear in a shanty by the harbour.”
How to use shanty
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a crude little shack, or a traditional sailors' work song — two different meanings for the same word.
Shanty (song) and chantey are alternate spellings of the same word — both are used.
Word forms
more shanty comparative, shantied past tense, shanties plural, shanties plural, shanties singular, most shanty superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The fishermen kept their gear in a _____ by the harbour.
Etymology
The building sense probably comes from Canadian French chantier, "lumberjack's camp"; the sea-song sense has a separate, less certain origin, possibly related to French chanter, "to sing."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for shanty
See all rhymes for shanty →Frequently asked questions
What does “shanty” mean?
The word “shanty” means a small, roughly built hut or shack, often makeshift. In plain terms, either a crude little shack, or a traditional sailors' work song — two different meanings for the same word.
How do you pronounce “shanty”?
“Shanty” is pronounced SHAN-tee (/ˈʃænti/ in IPA).
How do you use “shanty” in a sentence?
Here is “shanty” used in a sentence: “The fishermen kept their gear in a shanty by the harbour.”
What part of speech is “shanty”?
“Shanty” is a noun.
Where does the word “shanty” come from?
The word “shanty” comes from French. The building sense probably comes from Canadian French chantier, "lumberjack's camp"; the sea-song sense has a separate, less certain origin, possibly related to French chanter, "to sing.".
How many meanings does “shanty” have?
“Shanty” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, roughly built hut or shack, often makeshift.