sawney

(fool, idiot): From Sawney, a Scots variant of the personal name Sandy.

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɔːni/
• Rhymes: -ɔːni

sawney (countable and uncountable, plural sawneys)

1. (countable) A fool, an idiot.
2. (UK, slang, obsolete, uncountable) Bacon.
   • 1820, John Bull, volumes 1-2, page 363:

     Tyrrell, another boy, confirmed their testimony, and said, on one occasion, when they had stolen a heart, liver, and lights, the prisoner said, "go out, one or two of you, and see if you can get a bit of sawney!" (meaning a bit of bacon).

   • 1861, The old Roman well, volume 1, page 62:

     A man came in as she spoke, and drawing a large piece of bacon from his pocket, flung it down upon the counter.
     'How much d'ye want for it?' said the lodging-house keeper, weighing it with his eyes.
     'Sixpence.'
     'Sixpence for a bit of sawney! (thieved bacon). We can't give more than fourpence in this shop, my buffer.'

sawney (comparative more sawney, superlative most sawney)

1. foolish, stupid

• (bacon): 1873, John Camden Hotten, The Slang Dictionary

• Swaney, Swayne, waneys