Pawky
/ˈpɔːki/noun
Clever, shrewd, or sly, especially in a mischievous or crafty way.
Did you know?Pawky is chiefly Scots and northern English, but its deeper origin remains uncertain, making its history unusually resistant to neat explanation.
Etymological Timeline
18th Century
Scots
pawk
“A trick, stratagem, or act of craftiness; the precise origin is uncertain.”
18th Century
Scots
pawkie
“Cunning, sly, or artful; an adjectival form built from pawk.”
Late 18th Century
Scots
pawky
“Shrewd or sly, often with a mischievous implication.”
19th Century
English
pawky
“Clever and crafty, particularly in Scots and northern English usage.”
Modern English
English
pawky
“Marked by sly intelligence, practical cleverness, or roguish wit.”