dickey

1

or dick·y, dick·ie

[ dik-ee ]

noun,plural dick·eys.
  1. an article of clothing made to look like the front or collar of a shirt, blouse, vest, etc., worn as a separate piece under another garment, as a jacket or dress.: Compare vest (def. 2), vestee.

  2. a detachable linen shirt collar.

  1. a bib or pinafore worn by a child.

  2. a small bird.

  3. a donkey, especially a male.

  4. an outside seat on a carriage.

Origin of dickey

1
First recorded in 1745–55; generic use of Dicky, diminutive of Dick, proper name

Other definitions for dickey (2 of 3)

dickey2
[ dik-ee ]

adjectiveChiefly British Slang.
  1. not working properly; faulty: I'm fed up with this dickey air conditioner.

Origin of dickey

2
First recorded in 1805–15; origin uncertain

Other definitions for Dickey (3 of 3)

Dickey
[ dik-ee ]

noun
  1. James, 1923–97, U.S. poet and novelist.

  2. William "Bill", 1907–93, U.S. baseball player.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use dickey in a sentence

  • I sometimes thought that Mathieson might well have shown more consideration to one so much his senior in years as Dickie was.

  • Mr. Dickie was a teacher in Tilliedrum, but he was ruined by drink.

    Auld Licht Idylls | J. M. Barrie
  • Every day, for a quarter of an hour, Dickie was allowed to take exercise on a flat stone on the edge of the moor.

    Betty Vivian | L. T. Meade
  • But Betty had now forgotten that it was necessary to have a bait to bring Dickie once more into the shelter of his cage.

    Betty Vivian | L. T. Meade
  • On this special occasion, when Betty brought the rules to the Vivian attic, she forgot all about Dickie.

    Betty Vivian | L. T. Meade