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sulky

[ suhl-kee ]
/ ˈsʌl ki /
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See synonyms for: sulky / sulkiness on Thesaurus.com

adjective, sulk·i·er, sulk·i·est.
marked by or given to sulking; sullen.
gloomy or dull: sulky weather.
noun, plural sulk·ies.
a light, two-wheeled, one-horse carriage for one person.
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Origin of sulky

1735–45; akin to Old English solcen- lazy (in solcennes laziness), Frisian (N dial.) sulkig sulky

OTHER WORDS FROM sulky

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

How to use sulky in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sulky (1 of 2)

sulky1
/ (ˈsʌlkɪ) /

adjective sulkier or sulkiest
sullen, withdrawn, or moody, through or as if through resentment
dull or dismalsulky weather

Derived forms of sulky

sulkily, adverbsulkiness, noun

Word Origin for sulky

C18: perhaps from obsolete sulke sluggish, probably related to Old English āseolcan to be lazy

British Dictionary definitions for sulky (2 of 2)

sulky2
/ (ˈsʌlkɪ) /

noun plural sulkies
a light two-wheeled vehicle for one person, usually drawn by one horse

Word Origin for sulky

C18: from sulky 1, because it can carry only one person
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
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