crony

Meaning

  1. (informal) A close friend.
  2. (informal) A trusted companion or partner in a criminal organization.

Opposite of
noncrony
Pronounced as (IPA)
/ˈkɹoʊni/
Etymology

Coined between 1655 and 1665 from Ancient Greek χρόνιος (khrónios, “perennial, long-lasting”); see also chrono- (“time”). Initially Cambridge University slang, in sense of “chum”, as “friend of long standing”, with illegal connotation later. Early spellings included chrony, as in 1665 diary by Samuel Pepys, supporting the Greek origin.

Notes

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