bony
UK: ˈbəʊni | US: ˈboʊni
adj. 1. Consisting of or resembling bone; having prominent bones.
adj. 2. Lean or thin, with little flesh covering the bones.
adj. 3. (Figuratively) Hard, unyielding, or austere.
bony = bon<bone> + y<adjective suffix>
- bon (from Middle English bon, Old English bān, meaning "bone")
- y (a suffix forming adjectives, indicating "characterized by" or "full of")
Etymology Origin:
The word bony traces back to Old English bān (bone) combined with the adjectival suffix -y, which was productive in Middle English. The suffix -y often conveys a sense of "having the quality of" (e.g., stony, hairy). Over time, bony evolved to describe not just literal bone-like attributes but also figurative leanness or harshness. The logic is straightforward: something bony is either physically dominated by bones or metaphorically rigid/unadorned.
The stray dog was so bony that its ribs were clearly visible.
She had a bony face with high cheekbones.
The old tree’s bony branches stretched eerily against the sky.
His bony fingers gripped the pen tightly.
The landscape was bony and barren, with little vegetation.