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horny

/ˈhɔrni/
/ˈhɔni/
IPA guide

Other forms: hornier; horniest; hornily

Things that are horny either look like or are made of an animal’s horn or a similar hard material. The thick, hard nail on your big toe could be described as horny.

The word horny, describing the bony projection on an animal's head, appeared in English before the 10th century. An informal meaning — that of being sexually aroused — appeared later. Male physical arousal was crudely referred to as "having the horn” in the late 18th century before becoming the word horny in the mid-19th century. First used exclusively for men, the word now describes women's sexual feelings as well.

Definitions of horny
  1. adjective
    having horns or hornlike projections
    horny coral”
    horny (or horned) frog”
    synonyms:
    horned
    having a horn or horns or hornlike parts or horns of a particular kind
  2. adjective
    made of horn (or of a substance resembling horn)
    synonyms: corneous, hornlike
    hard
    resisting weight or pressure
  3. adjective
    feeling great sexual desire
    sexy
    marked by or tending to arouse sexual desire or interest
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