nonny
7
9.9
A nonsense word people sing in old English songs as a cheerful refrain
- noun
- /ˈnɑːni/
- Archaic
:
nonny
- He said, How beautiful you are, with a hey and a nonny #
Examples
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With a hey-nonny-nonny and a hot-cha-cha.
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That you won't be my better half With a hey and a nonny #
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With a hey and a nonny #
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With a hey and a nonny #
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With a hey ninny-nonny
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In the old ballad, the chorus included a cheerful refrain of nonny to keep the rhythm lively.
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The lively tune was accompanied by a playful nonny that delighted the listeners.
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As the minstrel sang, he often inserted a whimsical nonny to add a musical twist to his verses.
Surface Forms
Etymology
Nonny comes from old English songs and poems where singers used the cheerful nonsense refrain 'hey nonny nonny' as a simple musical 'filler'. So nonny today reminds us of a playful, meaningless chorus used for rhythm and fun.