tawny
Tawny (adj) means of a light brownish-orange colour, like a lion's coat. Example: “The desert stretched out in tawny sand and rock.”
How to use tawny
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA warm brownish-orange colour, like tanned leather or a lion's fur.
Word forms
tawnier comparative, tawnied past tense, tawnies plural, tawnys plural, tawnies singular, tawniest superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The desert stretched out in _____ sand and rock.
Etymology
From Old French tané, the past participle of taner ("to tan hide into leather"), from tan, the bark used in the tanning process.
Rhymes for tawny
See all rhymes for tawny →Frequently asked questions
What does “tawny” mean?
The word “tawny” means of a light brownish-orange colour, like a lion's coat. In plain terms, a warm brownish-orange colour, like tanned leather or a lion's fur.
How do you pronounce “tawny”?
“Tawny” is pronounced TAW-nee (/ˈtɔni/ in IPA).
How do you use “tawny” in a sentence?
Here is “tawny” used in a sentence: “The desert stretched out in tawny sand and rock.”
What part of speech is “tawny”?
Depending on how it is used, “tawny” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “tawny” come from?
The word “tawny” comes from Old French. From Old French tané, the past participle of taner ("to tan hide into leather"), from tan, the bark used in the tanning process.
How many meanings does “tawny” have?
“Tawny” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: of a light brownish-orange colour, like a lion's coat.