Etymology

pony

P3O1N1Y4

Today it means: A small horse; specifically, any of several small breeds of horse under 14.2 hands at the withers. Full definition →

Scots powny ← Old French poulenetder.? ← Late Latin pullanus
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pony · noun, verb1

  1. Proto-Indo-European*pel-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*pelh₂-
  3. Proto-Indo-European*polH-on-
  4. Proto-Italic*polnos?
  5. Proto-Indo-European*peh₂w-?
  6. Proto-Indo-European*put-der.?
  7. Latinpullus
  8. Late Latinpullanus
  9. Old Frenchpoulenetder.?
  10. Scotspowny
  11. English todaypony

From Scots powny, apparently from Middle French poulenet (“little foal”), ultimately from Late Latin pullanus (“young of an animal”), from pullus. First attested in 1659. Doublet of foal and pullus. Sense “small serving of alcohol” from 19th century, both for small sizes generally and for a quarter pint specifically, from the small size.

pony · adjective, noun2

Clipping of pony and trap, rhyming with crap.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.