ca'canny

[ kah-kan-ee, kaw- ]

/ kɑˈkæn i, kɔ- /

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noun British Slang.

a deliberate reduction of working speed and production by workers, to express their discontent.

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Origin of ca'canny

First recorded in 1895–1900; literally, “drive gently”; see ca', canny

Words nearby ca'canny

cabrito, cabstand, cabuya, cac-, ca-ca, ca'canny, cacao, cacao bean, cacao butter, caccia, cacciatore

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ca'canny in a sentence

As a catchword they adopted the Scotch phrase ca'canny, to go slow or be careful not to do too much.
The Armies of Labor|Samuel P. Orth
He deplores the prevalence of ca'canny, of absenteeism, of the aggressive spirit shown towards the employers.
The London Mercury, Vol. I, Nos. 1-6, November 1919 to April 1920|Various

British Dictionary definitions for ca'canny

ca'canny

/ (ˌkɔːˈkænɪ) /

noun Scot

moderation or wariness

a policy of restricting the output of work; a go-slow
(as modifier)a ca'canny policy

Word Origin for ca'canny

C19: literally, call canny to drive gently

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012