# shanty

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈʃænti/ · frequency rank #39,554

## Definitions
1. A roughly-built hut or cabin.
2. A rudimentary or improvised dwelling, especially one not legally owned.
3. An unlicensed pub.

## Etymology
From Canadian French chantier (“lumberjack's headquarters”). An alternative theory that the word derives from Irish seantí (meaning "old house") is not considered likely by lexicologists.
* (unlicensed pub): New Zealand from 1848.

## Easily confused with
- **shay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shanty-vs-shay)
- **shat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shanty-vs-shat)
- **shiny** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shanty-vs-shiny)
- **slant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shanty-vs-slant)
- **shunt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shanty-vs-shunt)
- **shitty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shanty-vs-shitty)
- **shorty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shanty-vs-shorty)
- **Shasta** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shanty-vs-shasta)
- **shifty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shanty-vs-shifty)
- **swanky** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shanty-vs-swanky)
- **Shinto** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shanty-vs-shinto)
- **shan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shan-vs-shanty)
- **Sant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sant-vs-shanty)
- **Santa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/santa-vs-shanty)
- **sandy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sandy-vs-shanty)
- **Shane** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shane-vs-shanty)
- **shaft** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shaft-vs-shanty)
- **salty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/salty-vs-shanty)
- **shady** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shady-vs-shanty)
- **shaky** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shaky-vs-shanty)

## Common misspellings (10)
`hsanty`, `sahnty`, `shannty`, `shantty`, `shantyy`, `shanyt`, `shatny`, `shhanty`, `shnaty`, `sshanty`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/shanty