Definition of DONKEY

donkey

Meanings

Plural: donkeys, donkies

Noun

  • the symbol of the Democratic Party; introduced in cartoons by Thomas Nast in 1874
  • domestic beast of burden descended from the African wild ass; patient but stubborn
  • 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.
  • British sea term for a sailor's storage chest.

Origin / Etymology

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). 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).

Scrabble Score: 14

donkey is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
donkey is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
donkey is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 14

donkey is a valid Words With Friends word