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definitions

ducky

1
[ duhk-ee ]
/ ˈdʌk i /
|
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adjective, duck·i·er, duck·i·est. Informal.

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

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RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

  1. ducks,
  2. ducks and drakes,
  3. ducktail,
  4. duckweed,
  5. duckwheat,
  6. ducommun,
  7. ducommun, élie,
  8. ducrey's bacillus,
  9. duct,
  10. duct keel

Origin of ducky

1
First recorded in 1810–20; duck1 + -y1

Definition for ducky (2 of 2)

ducky

2
[ duhk-ee ]
/ ˈdʌk i /

noun, plural duck·ies. British Slang.

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

Origin of ducky

2
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. 2019

Examples from the Web for ducky

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

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].

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper