ducky

[duhk-ee]

See more synonyms for ducky on Thesaurus.com

adjective, duck·i·er, duck·i·est. Informal.

fine; excellent; wonderful.
darling; charming; cute.

Origin of ducky

First recorded in 1810–20; duck¹ + -y¹

ducky

[duhk-ee]

noun, plural duck·ies. British Slang.

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

Origin of ducky

1530–40; duck¹ + -y² (perhaps alteration by folk etymology of Middle Dutch docke doll

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for ducky

cordial, kind, good, okay, fair, superior, swell, welcome, winning, lovely, friendly, ducky, admirable, amiable, approved, attractive, becoming, charming, commendable, considerate

Examples from the Web for ducky

Contemporary Examples of ducky

The married Texas Republican was photographed in ducky pajamas next to a lingerie model at a local bar in May 2009.
Texas Congressman Sued Over "Wet Dreams" About Former Staffer
Ben Jacobs
December 16, 2014
Try using Google Instant to find information about Ducky Doolittle, a New York City-based artist and sexologist.
Google's Bizarre Blacklist
Brian Ries
October 4, 2010

Historical Examples of ducky

I wouldn't mind so much if I didn't know that Ducky Lucky will be delighted.
Phyllis
Dorothy Whitehill
She and Ducky slept in the sitting-room now, while the four boys had the bedroom.
The Adventurous Seven
Bessie Marchant
"I am quite equal to taking care of myself, and of Ducky too," she said loftily.
The Adventurous Seven
Bessie Marchant
That is to say, it is about the trouble that came before Ducky was born; you remember it?
The Adventurous Seven
Bessie Marchant
It is Father, dear Father, and he does not know his little Ducky at all!
The Adventurous Seven
Bessie Marchant

British Dictionary definitions for ducky

ducky

duckie

informal

noun plural duckies

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

adjective

delightful; fine

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for ducky

adj.

"excellent," slang from 1897 (often ironical),perhaps from duckie as a term of endearment (early 19c.). Probably not related to much earlier slang noun meaning "a woman's breast" ["...whose pritty duckys I trust shortly to kysse," Henry VIII, c.1536 letter to Anne Boleyn, who, contrary to rumor, did not have three of them].