Sawney

Quick meaning: Sawney is a noun meaning (countable) A fool, an idiot.

Meaning

(countable) A fool, an idiot.

More Meanings

1. (UK, thieves' cant, obsolete, uncountable) Bacon.
2. foolish, stupid

Example Sentences

If a boy comes to the house on a night without money or sawney, or something to sell to the lodgers, a handkerchief or something of that kind, he is not admitted, but told very plainly, ‘Go thieve it, then.’

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).

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.'

Word Forms

• sawneys

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include nobber, sheepshead, idiot, nisey, nong, nonce.

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