Etymograph

English

pony

Pony comes from Scots powny.

  1. Scotsc. 1450–presentpowny
  2. Englishearliest quotation 1848pony

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Earlier history uncertain.

Lineage

  1. Scotsc. 1450–presentpowny
  2. Englishearliest quotation 1848pony

Earliest quotation: 1848, – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray: “You said a pony,” interposed Clavering; “my dear fellow,…”

first attested First attested in 1659 (as stated in the etymology)

The story

First attested in 1659. Sense “small serving of alcohol” from 19th century, both for small sizes generally and for a quarter pint specifically, from the small size.

Linked words

through Late Latin pullus ‘any young animal, young, especially’

poultry, poussin, poulter, 13 more

Today it means

noun A small horse; specifically, any of several small breeds of horse under 14.2 hands at the withers.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Scots powny / pony

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