tawny

American  

[taw-nee] / ˈtɔ ni /

Sometimes tawney

adjective

tawnier, tawniest

1. of a dark yellowish or dull yellowish-brown color.

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noun

1. a shade of brown tinged with yellow; dull yellowish brown.

tawny British  

/ ˈtɔːnɪ /

noun

1. 1. a light brown to brownish-orange colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      tawny port

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Other Word Forms

• tawnily adverb
• tawniness noun

Etymology

Origin of tawny

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English tauny, from Anglo-French taune, from Middle French tané, past participle of taner “to tan”; tan ¹

Explanation

A color adjective, tawny describes something that is a mix of yellow, orange, and brown colors. A lion has a beautiful tawny coat. Tawny comes from the Anglo-Norman word, taune, which means tanned. Although you might think first of sun tans, which do indeed produce tawny colors in light-skinned people (as long as they don't go straight to lobster red), tan first meant the bark of an oak tree, used to cure leather. It's from the look of tanned leather that we get skin tans and the word tawny.

Example Sentences

Folan would often describe her early years of marriage and motherhood, in an idyllic white house in a tawny Connecticut suburb, as looking blissful on the surface.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

In the picturesque community of Eddington, among the tawny deserts and quaint antique shops, things are quickly coming apart at the seams during the final weeks of May 2020.

From Salon • Jul. 20, 2025

Jake, a tawny 2-year-old mutt in L.A.’s West Valley shelter, wasn’t doing well.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 22, 2024

He had seen tawny owls in the neighbourhood before but was surprised to discover these so close to the heart of the city.

From BBC • Aug. 28, 2024

She and Jaime used to dare each other to climb into their cage, and once she worked up enough courage to slip her hand between two bars and touch one of the great tawny beasts.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin