carny

or car·ney

[ kahr-nee ]

noun

, plural car·nies.

1. a person employed by a carnival.
2. carnival ( def 1 ).

adjective

1. of or relating to carnivals:

   carny slang.

carny

¹

/ ˈkɑːnɪ /

verb

1. informal.
   to coax or cajole or act in a wheedling manner

carny

²

/ ˈkɑːnɪ /

noun

1. See carnival
   short for carnival
2. a person who works in a carnival

Word History and Origins

Origin of carny¹

First recorded in 1930–35; carn(ival) + -y ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of carny¹

C19: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

No squint-eyed carny could ever guess it; it's a shock to find out he's 20 years older than you always thought.

From The Daily Beast

The freaks are cooking the books, and the carny world turns into a funhouse mirror of the allegedly real one.

From The Daily Beast

A Florida native, Russell ably captures her state's wonky blend of natural beauty and carny effects.

From The Daily Beast

He was an Armless Wonder, a born freak, the top of the carny ladder, with a good job wherever he cared to look for one.

From Project Gutenberg

But, then, Professor Lightning really didn't understand carny.

From Project Gutenberg

Some people never really adjusted to carny life—where everybody knows everything.

From Project Gutenberg

It was much more like a carny haunted house trade-show floor now.

From Project Gutenberg

He felt like doing a carny barker spiel, Step right up, step right up, this way to the great egress!

From Project Gutenberg