or paunee, subs. (theatrical).—Rain. DOWRY OF PARNEY = plenty of rain. PAWNEE-GAME = water-drinking. [Hindoo pani = water: cf. BRANDY-PAWNEE; Gipsy pane.]
1851. H. MAYHEW, London Labour and the London Poor, iii. 149. PARNI is rain [among strolling actors].
1893. P. H. EMERSON, Signor Lippo, XIV. Arter a bit the old man gets him a berth … So he sticks to the PAWNEE GAME … long enough to learn the graft.
