adj. (tawnier, tawniest) of an orange- or yellow-brown colour.
Phrases and idioms:
tawny eagle a brownish African or Asian eagle, Aquila rapax. tawny owl a reddish-brown European owl, Strix aluco.
Derivatives:
tawniness n.
Etymology: ME f. AF taun{eacute}, OF tan{eacute} f. tan TAN(1)