dicky

[ dik-ee ]

noun

, plural dick·ies.

1. a variant of dickey ¹.

dicky

¹

/ ˈdɪkɪ /

noun

1. a woman's false blouse front, worn to fill in the neck of a jacket or low-cut dress
2. a man's false shirt front, esp one worn with full evening dress
3. Also calleddicky bow a bow tie
4. an informal name for a donkey, esp a male one
5. Also calleddickybirddickeybird a child's word for a bird, esp a small one
6. a folding outside seat at the rear of some early cars US and Canadian namerumble seat
7. Also calledboot an enclosed compartment of a car for holding luggage, etc, usually at the rear

dicky

²

/ ˈdɪkɪ /

adjective

1. informal.
   in bad condition; shaky, unsteady, or unreliable

   I feel a bit dicky today

Word History and Origins

Origin of dicky¹

C18 (in the senses: donkey, shirt front): from Dickey, diminutive of Dick (name); the relationship of the various senses is obscure

Origin of dicky²

C18: perhaps from the name Dick in the phrase as queer as Dick's hatband feeling ill

Example Sentences

He is supremely fit and has been reinvigorated by his shiny new left knee, though he has recently been kiboshed by a dicky hamstring.

From BBC

As plume of smoke covered the stage, the white-tailed Hollywood Chamber Orchestra blasted “2001: A Space Odyssey” theme “Thus Spoke Zarathustra,” and opening rapper Lil Dicky challenged Roseanne Barr for the most strained “Star-Spangled Banner” rendition of all time before launching into “Freaky Friday.”

From Los Angeles Times

As plume of smoke covered the stage, the white-tailed Hollywood Chamber Orchestra blasted “2001: A Space Odyssey” theme “Thus Spoke Zarathustra,” and opening rapper Lil Dicky challenged Roseanne Barr for the most strained “Star-Spangled Banner” rendition of all time before launching into “Freaky Friday.”

From Los Angeles Times

Huge bonuses: The host, Houseplant cannabis co-founder and co-head of the Hilarity for Charity nonprofit with wife Lauren Miller Rogen, also promises performances from 2022 Netflix fest veteran Snoop Dogg, Lil Dicky, Ronny Chieng, Janelle James and Ramy Youssef, plus crazy-big surprise guests, some sweet fireworks and all proceeds battling Alzheimer’s disease.

From Los Angeles Times

Annoyed ‘cause No. 87 is dating the Queen of the number 13? Lil Dicky says that makes you a “bitter loser.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• choker