neddy

A farmer leads his neddy along a country path.

Definition

1. Noun (countable):
   • A donkey: In informal or colloquial English, "neddy" refers to a donkey (Equus asinus).
   • A stupid or foolish person: By extension, "neddy" can be used as a mild insult to describe someone who is simple-minded or silly, though this usage is rare and dated.

Usage Examples

• Noun (donkey):

  • The farmer led the neddy across the field to graze. (The farmer walked the donkey.)
  • Children love to ride the old neddy at the fair. (Children enjoy riding the donkey.)

• Noun (foolish person, archaic):

  • Don't be such a neddy — think before you speak! (Don't be foolish.)

Advanced Usage

• "neddy" as a term of endearment: In some British dialects, "neddy" can be used affectionately for a donkey, similar to calling a dog "pooch."

  • Come here, my little neddy. (A friendly address to a donkey.)

• "neddy" in racing slang: In horse racing circles, "neddy" may occasionally refer to a racehorse, though this is very informal and not standard.

  • That neddy won the race by a nose. (That horse won narrowly.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ned (n, informal): A shortened form of "neddy," sometimes used as a nickname for a donkey.

  • Old Ned is the farm's most reliable animal. (The donkey named Ned.)

• Neddish (adj, rare): Resembling or characteristic of a donkey.

  • His neddish stubbornness annoyed everyone. (His donkey-like stubbornness.)

Synonyms

• Donkey: the standard, formal term for the animal.
• Ass: another common term for the animal.
• Moke: a British slang term for a donkey, similar in register to "neddy."
• Jackass: a male donkey.

Idioms and Fixed Expressions

• "to work like a neddy": To work very hard, like a donkey.
  • She worked like a neddy to finish the project on time. (She worked tirelessly.)

Related Words (not compounds)

• Neddy is not commonly used in phrasal verbs or compound idioms. It stands alone as a simple noun.