Bonny

/ˈbɑni/ adjective

Definition

Attractive and healthy-looking; pretty or beautiful, especially used in Scottish and Northern English dialects.

Etymology

From Scottish and Northern English, possibly derived from Old French 'bon' meaning 'good.' The word became especially associated with Scottish English and has been used since at least the 16th century.

Kelly Says

The word 'bonny' is so connected to Scotland that it appears in famous Scottish songs and poems, yet it originally came from French—showing how languages blend across borders and how borders themselves shape which words stick around.

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