neigh

English

Etymology

From Middle English neighen, from Old English hnǣġan, from Proto-Germanic *hnaijan, from Proto-Germanic *hnajjaną (to neigh). Cognate with dialectal Dutch neien, Middle Low German neigen, Swedish gnägga, Icelandic hneggja.

Pronunciation

  • enPR: , IPA(key): /neɪ/
  • Rhymes: -eɪ
  • Homophones: nay, nee, Neagh
  • (file)

Noun

neigh (plural neighs)

  1. The cry of a horse.
    Synonym: neighing
    Hyponyms: nicker, whinny

Translations

Verb

neigh (third-person singular simple present neighs, present participle neighing, simple past and past participle neighed)

  1. (of a horse) To make its cry.
    Hyponyms: nicker, whinny
    • 1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 33:
      "I went into the stable first to see to the horse, and found him neighing and waiting for his hay, so I went up into the hay-loft for an armful[.]"
  2. To make a sound similar to a horse's cry.
  3. (obsolete) To scoff or sneer.

Translations

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Anagrams

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