Crossword clues for ninny
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Ninny \Nin"ny\, n.; pl. Ninnies. [Cf. It. ninno, ninna, a
baby, Sp. ni[~n]o, ni[~n]a, child, infant, It. ninna, ninna
nanna, lullably, prob. fr. ni, na, as used in singing a child
to sleep.]
A fool; a simpleton.
--Shak.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"simpleton, fool," 1590s, perhaps a misdivision of an innocent (see N for other examples), or from the pet form of the proper name Innocent, with sense influenced by the name's literal meaning. There may be some influence in the word of Italian ninno "baby, child."
Wiktionary
n. a silly or foolish person
WordNet
n. a stupid foolish person [syn: nincompoop, poop]
Usage examples of "ninny".
I learn ten times more from Captain Argot than I do that ninny Evaristo.
And the ninny would, had he not been there to advise, have sent his own well-known bodyguards to take revenge upon the unwashed flesh of the scoundrelly agent, which action would likely have brought down the wrath of the duke upon not just Pehtros but himself and Kenos, as well.
Decimus Junius Silanus, whom she had to admit Cato had summed up neatly as a puking ninny.
After which she had to deal with another of the men in her life: her husband, Decimus Junius Silanus, whom she had to admit Cato had summed up neatly as a puking ninny.
Moorish ninnies is that there have been three Archbishops Harold di York, all long-lived and talented men, in the course of the last century and a half.
Of course he was her father, she had been a ninny ever to dream contrariwise, or that it mattered.
Having made a success, wrung commission from Blicks, rooked a gambling ninny like Lemoine, or secured an assortment of jewellery sent down to his "wife" in Gloucestershire, he would disappear for a time.
As he passed, Brak could hear him wheedling: "Myrkjartan is a most particular friend of mine, so let me speak to him at once, you grinning ninnies, or you'll all find yourselves turned into bootblacking rags.
The Brightwaters and the McDaniels had been closer than the sea and its shore ever since First Landing, and if there was anyone in this Castle who was not kin to me by birth or by marriage, or tied to me by favors given and received, it was some ninny such as stood guardmaid.
Melville's narrative was born of a cynicism so profound and twisted his storytelling makes Kafka seem a bliss ninny in comparison.
I even told that henhearted little ninny that she’d no need to be afraid, but all the thanks I got was abuse from the Empress.
Fat Ninny flickered his ears and snuffled and rubbed his big head against Miles, smearing his tunic with red and white horsehairs and nearly knocking him off his feet.
All my life I have been a keen operagoer and playgoer, and in the theatre I am willing to accept the notion that although the Devil is a very clever fellow, he is no match for some ninny who is merely good.
George and Brigid studied the calendar and neglected their lessons to such a degree that Clarissa, who very rarely used a harsh word where they were concerned, said that they were a couple of shatter-brained ninnies, only fit for the stable-bucket.