ducky

ducky

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈdʌki/

• Audio (AU)

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Etymology 1

From duck +‎ -y.

Adjective

ducky (comparative duckier, superlative duckiest)

1. Resembling or characteristic of a duck.
   • 2016, Helaine Becker, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie:

     A barrage of very ducky kazoo blats filled the air.

Etymology 2

From duck (“aquatic bird”) +‎ -y (diminutive suffix).

Alternative forms

• duckie

Noun

ducky (plural duckies)

1. (childish) A duck (aquatic bird), especially a toy rubber duck.
   • 1990, Donna LeBlanc, You can't quit until you know what's eating you

     Do little things for your Inner Child, like taking bubble baths. Invite a rubber ducky to play with you...

Derived terms

• rubber ducky

Etymology 3

From duck (term of endearment) +‎ -y (diminutive suffix).

Alternative forms

• duckie

Noun

ducky (plural duckies)

1. An affectionate pet name.

   Synonyms: darling, hon

   "Morning, ducky!" said Roderick, as he gave his partner a quick peck on the cheek and sat down to breakfast.

2. (slang, obsolete, chiefly in the plural) A woman's breast.

Etymology 4

From duck (term of endearment) +‎ -y.

Adjective

ducky (comparative more ducky, superlative most ducky)

1. Darling, charming, cute.
2. (slang, dated) Great; going well; proceeding in an eminently agreeable fashion.

   Synonyms: fine, just ducky, peachy, swell

   Farnesworth smiled contentedly as he read the stock ticker; all was ducky on Wall Street.

   • 1930, Mickey Mouse newspaper comic

     Isn't this the duckiest little leather skirt you ever saw?

   • 1942, James Thurber, The Catbird Seat:

     Fortunately, she had bragged to everybody about her ducky first-floor apartment in the perfectly darling three-story red-brick.

See also

• shucky ducky (etymologically unrelated)