ca canny

English

Alternative forms

• ca' canny
• caw canny

Etymology

From Scots ca canny.

Verb

ca canny

1. (Scotland) To go carefully or slowly; to take care.
   • 1922, Apsley Cherry-Garrard, The Worst Journey in the World:

     […] the inevitable result was that the willing horses were overworked. It was a point of honour not to ca’ canny.

   • 1995, Alan Warner, Morvern Callar, Vintage, published 2015, page 79:

     I walked away from the fire and tore up green bracken, caw-cannying not to slash my fingers on stalks.

Noun

ca canny (uncountable)

1. Alternative form of ca' canny

Scots

FWOTD – 9 March 2014

Alternative forms

• ca' canny
• ca cannie
• caw canny

Etymology

From ca (“call; drive”) + canny (“gentle”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kɑː ˈkani/

Verb

ca canny

1. to drive gently; (hence), to go easy, to be careful
   • 1836, Michael Scott, The Cruise of the Midge:

     ‘Ca' canny, man,’ said he, as I approached — ‘Ca' canny, Saunders — dinna rive folk alang the road to heaven at that rate, man.’

     ‘Take it easy, man,‘ said he, as I approached — ‘Take it easy, Saunders — don't drag people along the road to heaven at that rate, man.‘

   • 1868, Alexander Hislop, The Proverbs of Scotland:

     Ca' canny and flee laigh. Ca' canny and ye'll break nae graith.

     Be careful and fly low. Be careful and you'll break no gear.

   • 2008, James Kelman, Kieron Smith, Boy, Penguin, published 2009, page 390:

     Some were real fighters and ye could spot them a mile away, so then ye had to caw canny. Ye just caw canny.

     Some where real fighters and you could spot them a mile away, so then you had to take care. You just take care.