neigh

[ ney ]

verb (used without object)

1. to utter the cry of a horse; whinny.

noun

1. the cry of a horse; whinny.

neigh

/ neɪ /

noun

1. the high-pitched cry of a horse; whinny

verb

1. intr to make a neigh or a similar noise
2. tr to utter with a sound like a neigh

Word History and Origins

Origin of neigh¹

before 1000; Middle English ney ( gh ) en, Old English hnǣgan, cognate with Middle Dutch neyen, Old Saxon hnēgian, Middle High German nēgen, Old High German hneigen, Old Norse hneggja; akin to Old Saxon hnechian; Middle Dutch nighen, Middle Low German nigen, Middle High German nyhen; and, with intrusion in the initial, Old Norse gneggja, Norwegian kneggja. See nag ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of neigh¹

Old English hnǣgan; related to Old Saxon hnēgian

Example Sentences

A little ways back, a horse neighed loudly.

From Literature

Horses neighed in terror, dogs stared into space, transfixed by the tremors, and in Central Park, an Egyptian obelisk “trembled from apex to pedestal,” according to a New York Times article dated Aug. 11, 1884.

From New York Times

Eardrums drenched in the whirring neighs of 1,000 mechanical horses.

From BBC

Buttons was standing in front of the machine, bumping it with his nose and neighing.

From Literature

They started outside in the parking lot of the Clemente, galloping and neighing like horses.

From New York Times