donkey Meaning & Definition
What Does Donkey Mean?
As a noun, donkey means A domestic animal, Equus asinus asinus, similar to a horse. It is also used to mean A stubborn person.
Donkey in Brief
| Part of speech | noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈdɒŋ.ki// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | equus asinus and domestic ass |
| Plural | donkeys |
Donkey Definition (Noun)
- A domestic animal, Equus asinus asinus, similar to a horse.
- A stubborn person.
- A fool.
- A small auxiliary engine.
- A box or chest, especially a toolbox.
- A bad poker player.
- A sailor's storage chest.
- ↑ Barnhart, Robert and Steinmetz, Sol, editors (1988), “donkey”, in The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology, Bronxville, N.Y.: The H. W. Wilson Co., →ISBN, →OCLC, page 295, column 2.
- ↑ Onions, C[harles] T., Friedrichsen, G. W. S., and Burchfield, R[obert] W., editors (1966), “donkey”, in The Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 283, column 2; reprinted 1994.
Synonyms of Donkey
Antonyms of Donkey
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Donkey in a Sentence
No example sentences are available for this entry.
Word Forms & Grammar
donkey (plural donkeys or (obsolete) donkies)
Words That Rhyme With Donkey
Origin of Donkey
The origin is uncertain. Originally a slang term from the late eighteenth century. Perhaps from Middle English *donekie (“a miniature dun horse”), a double diminutive of Middle English don, dun, dunne (a name for a dun horse), equivalent to modern English dun (“brownish grey colour”) + -ock (diminutive suffix) + -ie (diminutive suffix), or similarly formed from the given name Duncan.[1][2] Compare Middle English donning (“a dun horse”), English dunnock. Became more common than the original term ass due to the latter's homophony and partial merger with arse (compare similar development between coney and rabbit).
Pronouncing Donkey
Donkey is pronounced //ˈdɒŋ.ki// and has 1 syllable.
Donkey: Your Questions Answered
What part of speech is donkey?
Donkey is a noun.
What is another word for donkey?
Words with a similar meaning to donkey include equus asinus and domestic ass. See the full list of donkey synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of donkey?
The plural of donkey is donkeys.