ducky

¹ American  

[duhk-ee] / ˈdʌk i /

adjective

Informal.

duckier, duckiest

1. fine; excellent; wonderful.

   Chocolate cake for dinner because it's my birthday? What a ducky idea!

2. darling; charming; cute.

   She was entranced by the ducky little puppy.

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ducky ² American  

[duhk-ee] / ˈdʌk i /

noun

British Informal.

duckies plural

1. dear; sweetheart; darling; pet (used as a term of endearment or familiarity).

   Get a wiggle on, ducky, or we'll be late for the movie.

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ducky British  

/ ˈdʌkɪ /

noun

1. darling or dear: used as a term of endearment among women, but now often used in imitation of the supposed usage of homosexual men

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adjective

1. delightful; fine

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• duckies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of ducky¹

First recorded in 1810–20; duck ¹ + -y ¹

Origin of ducky²

First recorded in 1530–40; duck ¹ + -y ²

Example Sentences

The event brought together dozens of families from across the country for an awareness walk, an auction and a rubber ducky race in a nearby creek.

From Salon • Feb. 19, 2025

He watched through his window as a wall of mud came barreling toward them, carrying boulders the size of trucks “like a rubber ducky on a pond.”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 26, 2022

The laptop is amazing, and I love the rubber ducky.

From The Verge • Jul. 25, 2022

"Thank you my dear ducky," Swanson replied, referring to the 56-year-old’s character in the 1986 film.

From Fox News • Nov. 2, 2021

“Well,” the lady crooned, with a wink that only the children could see, “that’s just ducky, Your Lordship, sir!”

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood