Word Adjective
bony
adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈboʊni/ UK /bˈəʊni/ bony
Definition
adj.having very little fat on the body so that the bones show through the skin. It can also describe something that is made of or looks like bone.
adj.characterised by a lack of flesh or fat, making the skeletal structure prominent; consisting of or resembling bone.
Examples
“The old man had thin, bony fingers.”
“After weeks of hiking with limited rations, his face looked tired and bony.”
“The archaeologist carefully brushed away the soil to reveal the bony remains of a creature that had been extinct for millions of years.”
Usage
Often used to describe specific body parts like fingers, knees, or shoulders to emphasize thinness.
Etymology
From Middle English bony, equivalent to bone + -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Origin Middle English bony
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated