An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language / in which the words are explained in their different senses, authorized by the names of the writers by whom they are used, or the titles of the works in which they occur, and deduced from their originals

by John Jamieson

Cannel-waters, s. pl. Cinnamon waters, S.

CANNELL BAYNE, The collar-bone.
Wallace.

Fr. canneau du col, the nape of the neck.

To CANNEL, v. a. To channel, to chamfer, S.

Fr. cannel-er, id.

CANNIE, KANNIE, adj.
1. Cautious, prudent, S.
Baillie.
2. Artful, crafty, S.
Rutherford.
3. Attentive, wary, watchful, S.
Ramsay.
4. Frugal, not given to expence, S.
Burns.
5. Moderate in charges, S.
6. Useful, beneficial, S.
Ross.
7. Handy, expert at any business; often used in relation to midwifery, S.
Forbes.
8. Gentle, so as not to hurt a sore, S.
9. Soft, easy, as applied to a state of rest, S.
Ramsay.
10. Slow in motion. "To gang canny," to move slowly; "to caw canny," to drive softly; also, to manage with frugality, S.
Burns.
11. Soft and easy in motion, S.
12. Safe, not dangerous. "A canny horse," one that may be rode with safety, S.
Burns.
No canny, not safe, dangerous, S.
Popul. Ball.
13. Composed, deliberate; as opposed to flochtry, throwther, S.
14. Not hard, not difficult of execution, S.
Burns.
15. Easy in situation, snug, comfortable; as "He sits very canny." "He has a braw canny seat," S.
Ramsay.
16. Fortunate, lucky, S.
Pennecuik.
17. Fortunate, used in a superstitious sense, S.
R. Galloway.
No canny, not fortunate, applied both to things and to persons.
Ramsay.
18. Endowed with knowledge, supposed by the vulgar to proceed from a preternatural origin; possessing magical skill, South of S.
Tales Landl.
19. Good, worthy, "A braw canny man," a pleasant, good-conditioned, or worthy man, S.
Statist. Acc.
20. Applied to any instrument, it signifies well-fitted, convenient, S. B.
Survey Nairn.

Isl. kiaen, sciens, prudens; callidus, astutus; kaeni, fortis et prudens; from kenn-a, noscere.

Cannie Wife, a midwife, South of S.
Cromek.

Cannily, adv.
1. Cautiously, prudently, S.
Baillie.
2. Moderately, not violently, S.
Baillie.
3. Easily, so as not to hurt or gall, S.
Rutherford.
4. Gently, applied to a horse obeying the rein, S.
Waverley.

Canniness, s.
1. Caution, forbearance, moderation in conduct, S.
Baillie.
2. Crafty management.
Baillie.