Meaning

7 senses
  1. A domestic animal, Equus asinus asinus, similar to a horse.

    Esel, Grauchen, Grautier

    осёлosjól, осли́цаoslíca, иша́кišák

    осе́лosél, віслю́кvisljúk, іша́кišák

  2. A stubborn person.

    Esel

    осёлosjól

  3. A fool.

    Esel

    осёлosjól

  4. A small auxiliary engine.

  5. (dated, slang)A box or chest, especially a toolbox.

  6. (slang)A bad poker player.

  7. (UK)A sailor's storage chest.

More definitions
  • the symbol of the Democratic Party; introduced in cartoons by Thomas Nast in 1874
  • domestic beast of burden descended from the African wild ass; patient but stubborn

Examples

190 sentences
  1. I have a donkey.

    У мене є віслюк.

    ruУ меня есть осёл.

    deIch habe einen Esel.

    CC BY · Tatoeba · CK · B2Open on TatoebaReport a problem
  2. Donkeys are tough animals.

    Віслюки - витривалі тварини.

    ruОслы - выносливые животные.

    deEsel sind zähe Tiere.

    CC BY · Tatoeba · CK · B2Open on TatoebaReport a problem
  3. Tom wanted to ride the donkey.

    CC BY · Tatoeba · CK · B2Open on TatoebaReport a problem
  4. Tom was killed by a donkey.

    CC BY · Tatoeba · CK · B2Open on TatoebaReport a problem
  5. He insulted me by calling me a donkey.

    ruОн оскорбил меня, обозвав ослом.

    CC BY · Tatoeba · CK · B2Open on TatoebaReport a problem

Translations

9 languages
Українська
By meaning 1
a domestic animal — see also ass:
Русский
By meaning 1
a domestic animal — see also ass:
Deutsch
By meaning 1
a domestic animal — see also ass:

Origin

The origin is uncertain. Originally a slang term from the late eighteenth century. Perhaps

The origin is uncertain. Originally a slang term from the late eighteenth century. Perhaps from Middle English *donekie (“a miniature dun horse”), a double diminutive of Middle English don, dun, dunne (a name for a dun horse), equivalent to modern English dun (“brownish grey colour”) + -ock (diminutive suffix) + -ie (diminutive suffix), or similarly formed from the given name Duncan. Compare Middle English donning (“a dun horse”), English dunnock. Became more common than the original term ass due to the latter's homophony and partial merger with arse (compare similar development between coney and rabbit).

Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

donkey — meaning, examples, forms, synonyms | Krumeto