dunny

comparative dunnier · superlative dunniest

1. Somewhat dun, dusky brownish.

   I were skynnes of conny, / That causeth I loke so donny.

   I wear skins of cony [rabbit], / That cause me to look so dunny.

   c. 1517 (date written; published c. 1545), John Skelton, “Here after Foloweth the Booke Called Elynour Rummynge. The Tunnyng of Elynour Rummyng per Skelton Laureat.”, in Alexander Dyce, editor, The Poetical Works of John Skelton: […], volume I, London: Thomas Rodd, […], published 1843, →OCLC, page 108, lines 399–400

comparative dunnier · superlative dunniest

1. UKdialectalSomewhat deaf, hard of hearing.

   Dunny, somewhat deaf, deafish.

   1708, J. Kersey, Dictionary Anglo-Britannicum

2. UKderogatorydialectaleuphemisticSlow to answer: stupid, unintelligent.

   What the devil are you dunny? won't you give me no answer?

   a. 1791, F. Grose, Olio, p. 105

plural dunnies

1. UKderogatorydialectaleuphemisticobsoleteA dummy, an unintelligent person.

   Should a School-boy do so, he'd be whip'd for a Dunny.

   1709, British Apollo, Vol. II, No. 29, p. 3

plural dunnies · alternative danna · alternative dunnee

1. UKalternativeobsoleteslangAlternative form of danna: shit.First known use 1859.
2. AustraliaNew ZealandNorthern EnglandScotlandalsodatedslangAn outhouse: an outbuilding used as a lavatory.First known use 1933.

   ‘Until you wake up to yourself, you can live in the old dunny for all I care.’ ‘All right, I will,’ said Tony.

   2010, Christopher Milne, “The Boy Who Lived in a Dunny”, in The Day Our Teacher Went Mad and Other Naughty Stories for Good Boys and Girls, page 108

   2 more examples

   "I've got one of those outside dunnies here, hasn't been emptied for six months and I ran out of sawdust three months ago."

   1995, Paul Vautin, Turn It Up!, Sydney: Pan Macmillan Australia, page 106

   There was one leaning dunny down the back and, if you stayed very quiet, on a very still day you could hear the white ants as they chewed the wood.The bottom boards were already eaten through, and I avoided using the dunny at all costs.

   2008, Judith L. McNeil, No One's Child, page 95

   Synonyms: bathroom

3. AustraliaNew ZealandslangAny other place or fixture used for urination and defecation: a latrine; a lavatory; a toilet.

   The dunny was another place to go to get out of class. You got to go there by raising your hand in class and asking Miss if you could go to the lav.

   2010, Kathleen M. McGinley, Out of the Daydream, page 47

   Synonyms: toilet

4. Northern EnglandScotlanddatedslangA passageway, particularly those connecting an outhouse to the main building.

plural dunnies

1. Northern EnglandScotlanddatedslangA cellar, basement, or underground passage.