donkey

[ dong-kee, dawng-, duhng- ]

noun

, plural don·keys.

1. the domestic ass, Equus asinus.
2. (since 1874) a representation of this animal as the emblem of the U.S. Democratic Party.
3. a stupid, silly, or obstinate person.
4. a woodworking apparatus consisting of a clamping frame and saw, used for cutting marquetry veneers.

adjective

1. Machinery. auxiliary:

   donkey engine; donkey pump; donkey boiler.

donkey

/ ˈdɒŋkɪ /

noun

1. Also calledass a long-eared domesticated member of the horse family ( Equidae ), descended from the African wild ass ( Equus asinus )
2. a stupid or stubborn person
3. slang.
   a footballer known for his or her lack of skill

   the players are a bunch of overpriced and overrated donkeys

4. talk the hind leg(s) off a donkey
   to talk endlessly

donkey

1. A symbol (see also symbol ) of the Democratic party , introduced in a series of political cartoons by Thomas Nast during the congressional elections of 1874. ( Compare elephant .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of donkey¹

First recorded in 1775–85; of uncertain origin; perhaps alteration of Dunkey, diminutive name or pet form of Duncan, man's name; perhaps a derivative of dun “dull, grayish brown”

Word History and Origins

Origin of donkey¹

C18: perhaps from dun dark + -key, as in monkey

Example Sentences

If memory serves, donkey dung doesn’t broadcast itself with anything like the strength of horse dung.

From Science News

These are your site’s biggest donkeys, the pages with the highest number of impressions but deliver lower than expected CTR for their ranking position.

From Search Engine Watch

My husband wrote a note apologizing that the camel and donkey mates were missing.

From Washington Post

Cars, buses, truck—even motorcycles, bicycles and donkeys—may be required to get the vaccine to rural areas.

From Fortune

Sixteen contenders — mostly dogs, with one donkey, a rooster and a cat in the mix — fought hard for the title of mayor.

From Washington Post

Nearby a family of Turkish Kurds busied themselves in their fields piling vegetables onto a donkey-drawn cart.

From The Daily Beast

In the second instance, it is a man and his wife pleading from atop a donkey.

From The Daily Beast

He patrolled on foot, and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) filled the donkey paths that crisscrossed the wadis and hills.

From The Daily Beast

For the donkeys who have long felt that Donkey Ball should not be real, 2014 earns an A-.

From The Daily Beast

He was painting the Sistine Chapel, and he was angry at one of the bishops or cardinals, so he painted him in with donkey ears.

From The Daily Beast

His donkey stumbled—it was natural enough, seeing that the reins hung loose and his feet had somehow left the stirrups.

From Project Gutenberg

His donkey had gone lame, he abandoned it to the boys behind, he climbed in to drive with Lettice.

From Project Gutenberg

Ibrahim stopped his song to sigh, and struck his donkey lightly under the right ear, causing it to turn sharply to the left.

From Project Gutenberg

And now Ibrahim struck his donkey again, and they went on rapidly towards the Libyan mountains.

From Project Gutenberg

Could all these people read her mind and follow the track of her distastes and desires, even the dragomans and the donkey-boys?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• burro
• horse
• mule