darky

American  

[dahr-kee] / ˈdɑr ki /

Or darkie

noun

Older Use: Now Offensive.

darkies plural

1. a term used to refer to a Black person.

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darky British  

/ ˈdɑːkɪ /

noun

1. an offensive word for a Black person

2. an offensive word for a native Australian

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Sensitive Note

The earliest uses of darky in English were sentimental, probably affectionate in intent, although it is likely that even then, those who were addressed or referred to by the term found it patronizing. For example, the lyrics of Stephen Foster's song My Old Kentucky Home (1853) refer with nostalgia to happy “darkies.” But by the early part of the 20th century, the term had become increasingly offensive and unacceptable. Current versions of the Foster lyrics refer instead to “people.”

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• darkies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of darky

First recorded in 1765–75; dark + -y ²

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

darky darkies

Mr Rain – The Velvet UndergroundA neglected John Cale-era gem, repetition and dissonance combining to create a darky oppressive and strange atmosphere.

From The Guardian ● Apr. 7, 2011

When 20th-century superstar singers Marian Anderson and Paul Robeson began dropping "darkies" from their renditions, many whites responded as though something holy were being desecrated.

From Salon ● May 5, 2022