townyadj.
/ˈtaʊni/, U.S. /ˈtaʊni/ colloquial.
Belonging to or characteristic of the town or town dwellers, esp. as opposed to the countryside; urban. Cf. townee adj.In quot. 1823 in to come townie over: (perhaps) to act in a cunning way towards.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > district in relation to human occupation > town as opposed to country > town or city > [adjective]
towna1425
townishc1425
urbane1533
townslike1574
urban1619
townly1822
towny1823
1823 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Mar. 281 I boldly trots aft to the garrison, honey, and comes towney over one of them there young lobster-backs.
1837 New Monthly Mag. 50 248 His acquired habits were of the town, towny.
1857 E. M. Whitty Friends of Bohemia I. 211 Are you not weary of this towney life?
1908 Treasury Feb. 507 A house so towny and stylish, compared with our farm homesteads.
1937 C. Beaton Diary in Self Portrait with Friends (1979) vi. 54 She looked very different from the others, neat and towny in smart clothes and a black felt hat.
1995 Daily Mail Ski Mag. Feb. 96 (table) Big, towny resort in a flat, high valley surrounded by excellent skiing mountains.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1823