Scrawny
Meaning
Describes something or someone as unattractively thin and bony.
Origin
The word "scrawny" crept into the English lexicon during the 18th century, a stark, visceral word for anything unpleasantly thin. Though its precise journey through language is a bit shadowy, many linguists trace its roots back to older Scandinavian terms, like the Old Norse "skrælna," meaning "to wither" or "to become shriveled." Picture the lean times of past centuries—harsh winters, sparse harvests—when livestock, and sometimes even people, would become visibly gaunt. This direct, often grim observation of emaciation likely birthed "scrawny," a word that perfectly captures that bony, underfed appearance with a memorable, almost sharp sound.
Examples
- The stray cat was scrawny, its ribs visible through its matted fur.
- Despite his scrawny build, the young athlete had surprising speed and agility.