noun
carny
KAH-nee
noun
1
A person who works at a traveling carnival or fair, often running rides or game stalls.
"The carny running the ring-toss booth kept calling out to passersby."
2
Informal slang and insider talk used among carnival workers.
"He picked up a bit of carny while working the fairground one summer."
verb
1
Informally, to persuade someone through charm, flattery, or minor trickery.
"She carnied her way past the bouncer with a smile and a fake story."
How to Use Carny
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who works at a fairground, or the slangy patter and hustle associated with that world.
When to use it
Informal, and can carry a slightly disreputable or streetwise connotation.
Word Forms
carnied past tense, carnies plural, carnies singular
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The _____ running the ring-toss booth kept calling out to passersby.
Etymology
A shortened, informal form of "carnival," with the "-y" ending common in casual nicknames.