slang. Obs. Also 8 toney. [A particular application of Tony, used as short for Antony.] A foolish person; a simpleton.
For possible origin, cf. Middleton, Changeling (1623), I. ii.
1654. Gayton, Pleas. Notes, III. x. 141. Their Friends and Wives have took them for Tonies or Mad-men.
1699. R. L’Estrange, Erasm. Colloq. (1711), 148. I saw once an errant Tony, with a Gown to his Heels.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Tony, a silly Fellow, or Ninny.
a. 1784. Johnson, in Piozzi, Anecd. (1786), 195. Teaching such tonies is like setting a lady’s diamonds in lead.
