Nanny Names a Childminder, a Goat and a Grandmother
A nanny cares for children in their home. The word also means a female goat and, in some families, a grandmother.
A nanny is a person employed to care for children in their own home. The word does three jobs at once: a *nanny goat* is a female goat, paired with a *billy goat* for the male, and in many British families *nanny* is a name for a grandmother. All three come from Nan, a pet form of Ann, applied first to a nurse and then to the animal. *Nanny state* is a political criticism coined in 1965 by the MP Iain Macleod.
- A childminder. *The family nanny.*
- A female goat. *A nanny goat.*
- A grandmother. *My nanny.*
- Nanny state — an over-protective government. *The nanny state.*
- Billy goat — the male counterpart. *A billy goat.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | nanny | A live-in nanny. |
| Plural | nannies | Two nannies. |
| Compound | nanny goat | A nanny goat. |
| Compound | nanny state | The nanny state. |
| Source | Nan | From Ann. |
- The nanny collects them from school.Childcare.
- A nanny goat and a billy goat.Animals.
- Nanny state was coined in 1965.Politics.
Animal names from human names
- Nanny goat and billy goat — from Ann and William
- Tomcat — from Thomas
- Jenny — a female donkey, from Jane
- Jack — a male donkey, from John
- Robin, magpie, jackdaw — all carry human names
From *Nan*, a pet form of the name Ann, used from the 1700s for a children's nurse and for a female goat.
Why is a female goat a nanny?
From Nan, a pet form of Ann, used as a generic female name. The male is a billy, from William.
Who coined nanny state?
The British MP Iain Macleod, writing in 1965, as a criticism of excessive government protection.