BONEY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does boney mean? 

• BONEY (adjective)
  The adjective BONEY has 2 senses:

1. having bones especially many or prominent bones

2. being very thin

  Familiarity information: BONEY used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BONEY (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Having bones especially many or prominent bones

Synonyms:

boney; bony

Context example:

bony fish

Similar:

bone (consisting of or made up of bone)

boned (having bones as specified)

bonelike (resembling bone)

strong-boned (having strong bones)

Derivation:

bone (rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Being very thin

Synonyms:

boney; bony; scraggly; scraggy; scrawny; skinny; underweight; weedy

Context example:

pale bony hands

Similar:

lean; thin (lacking excess flesh)

Derivation:

boniness; bonyness (extreme leanness (usually caused by starvation or disease))