pony en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
- /ˈpoʊni/ (General-American)
- /ˈpəʊni/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *pel- Proto-Indo-European *pelh₂- Proto-Indo-European *polH-on- Proto-Italic *polnos? Proto-Indo-European *peh₂w-? Proto-Indo-European *put-der.? Latin pullus Late Latin pullanus Old French poulenetder.? Scots powny English pony From Scots powny, apparently from Middle French poulenet (“little foal”), ultimately from Late Latin pullanus (“young of an animal”), from pullus. First attested in 1659. Doublet of foal and pullus. Sense “small serving of alcohol” from 19th century, both for small sizes generally and for a quarter pint specifically, from the small size.
Meanings
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A small horse; specifically, any of several small breeds of horse under 14.2 hands at the withers.
The pony won three times in one month and as I had backed it on each occasion I collected a ‘bank’ of over £400.
1933, Frank Clune, Try Anything Once, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 153:
- (endearing) A horse of any size.
- A contraption built like a mount, strong enough to support one's weight.
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(regional) A small serving of an alcoholic beverage, especially beer.
‘I’m on the inside track,’ said a pony of beer as it went galloping down a man’s throat.
1885, New York Journal, AugustI did not even know what a ‘pony’, a small chaser of beer, was. But of course I could not admit that. So putting on an air of nonchalance, and a deep voice, I strolled into a pub with one of the other equally naive guys and we ordered two ponies of beer. ‘McEwans?’ asked the barman. ‘Naw - ponies’ said I.
2010, Dick Lynas, Pies Were for Thursdays: Tales from an Ordinary Glasgow East End Childhood, page 283:1879, “Some Queer Interviews: Interview with a Pony of Beer”, Puck, Vol. 5–6, p. 435
Demon popped into his mouth a last morsel of black bread with elastic samlet, gulped down a last pony of vodka and took his place at the table with Marina facing him across its oblong length.
1969, Vladimir Nabokov, Ada or Ardor, Penguin, published 2011, page 193:
- (Australia, New-South-Wales, Western, qualifier:Victoria) A serving of 140 millilitres of beer (formerly 5 fl oz); a quarter pint.
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(UK, slang) Twenty-five pounds (money).
“You said a pony,” interposed Clavering; “my dear fellow, you said a pony, and I’ll be eternally obliged to you; and I’ll not take it as a gift—only as a loan, and pay you back in six months. I take my oath, I will.” “Well—well—there’s the money, Sir Francis Clavering. […] Here’s five-and-twenty for you.
1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 61, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC:
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(US, slang) A translation used as a study aid; loosely, a crib, a cheat-sheet.
She kept the dates written down in her Latin 'pony', so she didn't have to bother about who it was.
1931, William Faulkner, Sanctuary, Library of America, published 1985, page 104:
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(slang) A ponytail hairstyle.
His hair is a semilong dull red and pulled back in a sloppy pony at the base of his neck, and his face is riddled with small freckles and grease, but out here I can see personal hygiene isn't exactly at the top of the priority list.
2012, Amlynn Smith, Lost and Found, page 18:
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(slang) One horsepower.
How many ponies are under the hood?
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(qualifier:preceded by definite article) A dance from the 1960s in which the dancer mimics the high-stepping prance of a pony.
Do the monkey, do the pony / Do the slop, do the boogaloo twist.
1971, “Suicide Song”, in Loudon Wainwright III (lyrics), Album II, performed by Loudon Wainwright III:
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(slang) A chorus girl of small stature.
He suggested a Rose Ballet in which he would use the G. V. Follies chorus girls, chiefly the ponies and mediums.
1941, Thoda Cocroft, Great Names and how They are Made, page 140:
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(abbreviation, alt-of, derogatory, ellipsis, slang) Ellipsis of Sony pony.
alt of Sony pony
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ponies | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
ponytail · pony boy · room for a pony · pony-tailed · ride the cotton pony · pony motor · pony bead · Dales pony · anypony · ponify · My Little Pony · ponyskin · somepony · play the ponies · everypony · pit pony · flog a dead pony · pony putter · ponylike · pony wall · smoking ponies · ponyplay · ponysona · Pony Express · Jerusalem pony · pony-trekker · Johnny on the pony · baloney pony · Johnny on a pony · shanks' pony · Fell pony · Shetland pony · polo pony · pony and trap · spanking pony · New Forest pony · ponyboy · pony shoe · dog-and-pony show · one trick pony · show pony · pony truss · pony ant · ponyless · pony tail · sportpony · pony chaise · Chincoteague pony · Asturian pony · blue pony ant · dog and pony show · brony · nopony · cow pony · zony · Welsh pony · Ponygate · pony keg · pony bottle · pony keg station · Fell pony syndrome · pony engine · ponykind · Welsh mountain pony · ponyfoot · pony glass · pony truck · pony in the barn · ponyback · pony-trekking · pony fucker · cowpony · pony fan · one-trick pony · pony car · ride the pony · ponygirl
Descendants
poni · poney · poni · ponny · pony · ponni · პონი · ポニー · Pony · пони · по́ні · по́ні · poni · pónaí · pony · pony · póni · ponis
Relateds
Synonyms
Translations (88)
pt pónei (small horse) · fr poney (small horse) · pdt Poonkje (small horse) · es poni (small horse) · ga capaillín (small horse) · sl poni (small horse) · de Kleinpferd (small horse) · ga pónaí (small horse) · lv ponijs (small horse) · de Pony (small horse) · hy պոնի (small horse) · sh poni (small horse) · nl pony (small horse) · gl arricallo (small horse) · vo smajeval (small horse) · da pony (small horse) · sk poník (small horse) · cs poník (small horse) · el πόνι (small horse) · gl gurrufeiro (small horse) · ja 子馬 (small horse) · sh пони (small horse) · cmn 矮種馬 /矮种马 (small horse) · nn ponni (small horse) · la caballio (small horse) · gl barroufeiro (small horse) · mk пони (small horse) · kk пони (small horse) · grc πωλίον (small horse) · ro ponei (small horse) · is smáhestur (small horse) · br pone (small horse) · ota مدللی (small horse) · eo poneo (small horse) · ab аҽӷа́ча (small horse) · bg по́ни (small horse) · ka პონი (small horse) · nb ponni (small horse) · pt pônei (small horse) · id kuda poni (small horse) · eo ĉevaleto (small horse) · io poneo (small horse) · az poni (small horse) · et poni (small horse) · ar فَرَس قَزَم (small horse) · gd pònaidh (small horse) · cy merlen (small horse) · fi poni (small horse) · sv ponny (small horse) · fa اسبچه (small horse) · ja 小馬 (small horse) · es cuartago (small horse) · ga gearrchapall (small horse) · cmn 小馬 /小马 (small horse) · fa پونی (small horse) · io kavaleto (small horse) · hu póni (small horse) · be по́ні (small horse) · la mannus (small horse) · it pony (small horse) · lt ponis (small horse) · ms kuda padi (small horse) · gl faquitrós (small horse) · uk по́ні (small horse) · mi pone (small horse) · es asturión (small horse) · nrf pônîn (small horse) · vo jevodil (small horse) · mt poni (small horse) · ko 조랑말 (small horse) · gv garran (small horse) · tr midilli (small horse) · es jaca (small horse) · ab апони (small horse) · es póney (small horse) · es caballito (small horse) · ru по́ни (small horse) · id kuda kerdil (small horse) · mi poni (small horse) · ca poni (small horse) · ja ポニー (small horse) · kw hobba (small horse) · vi ngựa pôni (small horse) · gl faco (small horse) · cy merlyn (small horse) · vo jevalil (small horse) · ja 仔馬 (small horse) · pl kuc (small horse)