grinny

English

Etymology 1

From grin +‎ -y.

Adjective

grinny (comparative more grinny, superlative most grinny)

1. Having or resembling a grin.

   a grinny face

   • 2019, Liam Livings, Love on the Dancefloor, page 10:

     That cheeky, grinny smile with those twinkly blue eyes

Etymology 2

The phrase "grinny chipmunk" is first attested in 1898 (see quotation below). Perhaps from Etymology 1 above. (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Alternative forms

• grinnie

Noun

grinny (plural grinnies)

1. (Western Pennsylvania) An eastern chipmunk, Tamias striatus.
   • [1898 November, B. W. Mitchell, “A Thanksgiving Deer Hunt in West Virginia”, in Outing, page 143:

     Reason thus, and if your heart beats till it hurts your ribs as a gray squirrel whisks across the dry leaves or a ‘grinny chipmunk’ waves you a derisive signal with his little flag from a log before your very nose, call yourself ‘fool,’ ‘idiot,’ anything that comes handy.]