whinny

[ hwin-ee, win-ee ]

verb (used without object)

, whin·nied, whin·ny·ing.

1. to utter the characteristic cry of a horse; neigh.

verb (used with object)

, whin·nied, whin·ny·ing.

1. to express by whinnying.

noun

, plural whin·nies.

1. a whinnying sound.

whinny

/ ˈwɪnɪ /

verb

1. (of a horse) to neigh softly or gently
2. to make a sound resembling a neigh, such as a laugh

noun

1. a gentle or low-pitched neigh

Word History and Origins

Origin of whinny¹

1520–30; imitative; compare earlier whrinny, Latin hinnīre

Word History and Origins

Origin of whinny¹

C16: of imitative origin

Example Sentences

Welcoming visitors to the thatched-roof cottage she and her late husband bought soon after the war, she whimsically tweaks the ears of a mechanical horse named Dobin, making him whinny.

From Seattle Times

Nuckels also produced a radio ad with narrator with a western drawl saying “Dirty Dan” was riding off into the sunset as horses whinny in the background.

From Seattle Times

The helmet hit Sigurd’s horse on the flank, and the charger whinnied, spooked.

From Literature

Anya tensed, certain the creature from the arena had followed them somehow, but the sound of whinnying replaced that fear with a new one.

From Literature

My filly’s whinny, timid trill: I’m sitting by this icy rill, In wintry, frigid wild?

From Washington Post