tinny
|tin-ny|
/ˈtɪni/
like tin; thin/metallic
Etymology
'tinny' originates from English, formed from the noun 'tin' + the adjectival suffix '-y', where 'tin' meant the metal 'tin'.
'tin' comes from Old English 'tin' (from Proto-Germanic *tinaz). The adjective 'tinny' developed in English by adding '-y' to 'tin' to mean 'made of tin' and later extended in sense.
Initially it meant 'made of or resembling tin'; over time it evolved to describe a 'thin, metallic sound' and by extension 'cheap' or 'inferior in quality'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
(Informal, chiefly Australian/NZ; often spelled 'tinnie') A can of beer or a small metal container (slang).
After the game they sat on the porch with a tinny.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
having a thin, high-pitched, metallic sound; lacking richness or warmth.
The cheap speaker produced a tinny sound that hurt my ears.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/04 20:10