different between mules vs donkey

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mju?lz/

Etymology 1

Noun

mules

1. plural of mule

Verb

mules

1. Third-person singular simple present indicative form of mule

Etymology 2

From the surname of the procedure's inventor, John Mules.

Verb

mules (third-person singular simple present muleses, present participle mulesing, simple past and past participle mulesed)

1. (transitive) To remove skin from (an animal) to prevent myiasis.

Anagrams

• Lemus, mulse

Catalan

Pronunciation

• (Balearic, Central) IPA^(key): /?mu.l?s/
• (Valencian) IPA^(key): /?mu.les/

Noun

mules

1. plural of mula

Danish

Noun

mules c

1. indefinite genitive singular of mule

Middle English

Noun

mules

1. plural of mule

Volapük

Noun

mules

1. dative plural of mul

English

Etymology

The origin is uncertain. Originally a slang term from the late eighteenth century. Perhaps from Middle English *donekie (“a miniature dun horse”), a double diminutive of Middle English don, dun, dunne (a name for a dun horse), equivalent to modern English dun (“brownish grey colour”) + -ock (diminutive suffix) + -ie (diminutive suffix). Compare Middle English donning (“a dun horse”), English dunnock.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?d??ki/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?d??ki/, /?d??ki/; (rare and nonstandard) /?d??ki/
• Rhymes: -??ki
• Hyphenation: don?key

Noun

donkey (plural donkeys)

1. A domestic animal, Equus asinus asinus, similar to a horse.
2. A stubborn person.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:stubborn person

3. A fool.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:fool

4. (nautical) A small auxiliary engine.

   Synonym: donkey engine

5. (naval slang, dated) A box or chest, especially a toolbox.
6. (poker slang) A bad poker player.

Hyponyms

• jack
• jackass
• jenny

Derived terms

Descendants

• ? Afrikaans: donkie
• ? Northern Sotho: tonki
• ? Tok Pisin: donki

Translations

See also

• ass
• mule
• hinny

Further reading

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “donkey”, in Online Etymology Dictionary
• “donkey” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.

References

• (box or chest): 1930, Naval Review (London) (volume 18, page 592)