adjective
also bon·nie ˈbänē, -ni
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English bonie, from Old French bon good (from Latin bonus ) + Middle English -ie -y — more at bounty
1. chiefly Britain : having a pleasing appearance:
a. of a person : attractive especially as suggesting health, charm, sweetness, and liveliness
as fair art thou, my bonny lass, so deep in love am I — Robert Burns
b. of a place : pleasant especially through the appeal of the mild, placid, and rural
2.
a. chiefly Britain : of considerable degree, size, or quantity
a bonny fighter, who … never fought better than when he championed a losing side — Thomas Wood †1950
b. Britain
(1) : in good health
at the end of three weeks he was … bonny … and the mother too was … recovering — Ruth Mitchell
(2) : plump
3. archaic : happy , gay
4. Britain : very pleasant : fine , excellent — a generalized term of approbation sometimes used ironically
well, my bonny lad, they found you out
Synonyms: see beautiful