Word of the Day - 10/23/25
canny
/'kæni/(adj.): showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
The canny businessman negotiated a deal that benefited his company immensely while giving the impression of compromise.
Word Origin
The word 'canny' originates from Scottish English. It is derived from the Scots word 'can' meaning 'to know' or 'to be able', combined with the adjective-forming suffix '-y'. The root 'can' itself traces back to Old English 'cunnan', meaning 'to know' or 'to be able', and further to Proto-Germanic *kunnaną. Thus, 'canny' literally means 'knowing' or 'skillful', evolving to its modern sense of 'shrewd, careful, astute, especially in money matters'.
Words with a similar origin include the English verb 'can' (to be able), which shares the same Old English root 'cunnan'. Another related word is 'cunning', which also derives from the Germanic root meaning 'to know' or 'to be able', and in Old English, 'cunnung' meant 'knowledge' or 'skill'. The word 'ken' (to know or understand), particularly common in Scottish and Northern English dialects, also stems from this common Germanic etymological source.