hinny

[ hin-ee ]

noun

, plural hin·nies.

1. the sterile offspring of a male horse and a female donkey, similar in appearance and behavior to a mule, but usually smaller and with a more horselike head.

hinny

¹

/ ˈhɪnɪ /

verb

1. See whinny
   a less common word for whinny

hinny

²

/ ˈhɪnɪ /

noun

1. dialect.
   a term of endearment, esp for a woman or child

hinny

³

/ ˈhɪnɪ /

noun

1. See mule
   the sterile hybrid offspring of a male horse and a female donkey or ass Compare mule 1

Word History and Origins

Origin of hinny¹

First recorded in 1680–90; obsolete hinne (from Latin hinnus; akin to Greek gínnos “mule”) + -y ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of hinny¹

variant of honey

Origin of hinny²

C17: from Latin hinnus, from Greek hinnos

Example Sentences

The body and barrel, however, of the hinny are flat and narrow, in which it differs from the horse and resembles the she ass.

From Project Gutenberg

The hinny, on the other hand, the produce of the stallion and she ass, is essentially a modified horse.

From Project Gutenberg

A very curious circumstance pertains to the voice of the mule and the hinny.

From Project Gutenberg

And hark ye, hinny, this house is to be your hame until you light on a better one, so just sleep saft in it and wake merrily.

From Project Gutenberg

You wouldn't deprive a poor cratur of all the comfort she has in the world, would ye, hinny?

From Project Gutenberg