dickey

or dick·y, dick·ie

[ dik-ee ]

/ ˈdɪk i /

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noun, plural dick·eys.

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.

a detachable linen shirt collar.

a bib or pinafore worn by a child.

a small bird.

a donkey, especially a male.

an outside seat on a carriage.

British. rumble seat (def. 1).

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of dickey

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

Other definitions for dickey (2 of 3)

dickey²

[ dik-ee ]

/ ˈdɪk i /

adjective Chiefly British Slang.

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

Origin of dickey

First recorded in 1805–15; origin uncertain

Other definitions for dickey (3 of 3)

Dickey

[ dik-ee ]

/ ˈdɪk i /

noun

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

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

How to use dickey in a sentence

Now, Dickie says, the church is distancing itself from the perceived alliance.
Pope Francis May Be Risking His Life by Taking on the Mafia|Barbie Latza Nadeau|June 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He shared his first joint with Louis Armstrong and Dickie Wells backstage at Three Deuces on 52 Street.
The Stacks: Harold Conrad Was Many Things, But He Was Never, Ever Dull|Mark Jacobson|March 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Here is the best book I have read on the role of organized crime in southern Italy, John Dickie's Cosa Nostra.
You Know Who's More Corrupt than America?|David Frum|October 8, 2012|DAILY BEAST
There was born what Dickie calls, following the lead of a late 19th century Italian investigator, Sicily's "violence industry."
David's Book Club: Cosa Nostra (Part 2)|David Frum|August 15, 2012|DAILY BEAST

As John Dickie tells it in his riveting and convincing Cosa Nostra, Italy's Mafia problem is not a problem born of culture.
David's Book Club: Cosa Nostra (Part 2)|David Frum|August 15, 2012|DAILY BEAST
I sometimes thought that Mathieson might well have shown more consideration to one so much his senior in years as Dickie was.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
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