‖ dhoney, doney
(ˈdəʊnɪ)
Also 6–7 doni, tonee, tony.
[ad. Tamil, thōṇi (pronounced dōni): perh. a foreign word; cf. Pers. dōnī a yacht. (Spelt donny by the French writer Pyrard de la Val c1610.)]
A small native sailing vessel of Southern India.
| 1582 N. Lichefield tr. Castanheda's Conq. E. Ind. lxi. 125 a, Coching, from whence they were minded to send the Tone which carried the pepper, laden with merchandise. 1660 F. Brooke tr. Le Blanc's Trav. 70 Near to Zeilan, where they use flat-bottome boats, called Tune, because they have little bottome. 1803 R. Percival in Naval Cron. X. 26 Boats and donies employed in the fishery. 1859 Tennent Ceylon II. 103 (Y.) Amongst the vessels at anchor lie the dows of the Arabs, the patamars of Malabar, the dhoneys of Coromandel. 1880 Standard 15 May 5/3 His Wardian cases will cumber the decks of Arab dhows, Coromandel dhoneys. 1894 Monthly Circ. Lloyd's Reg., Abbreviations..Dhy. Dhoney. |