rocky

See also: Rocky and Rockies

English
WOTD – 21 November 2021

Pronunciation
  • (Received Pronunciation) enPR: rŏk'i, IPA(key): /ˈɹɒki/, [ˈɹʷɒki]
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈɹɑki/, [ˈɹʷɑki]
  • Audio (Midwestern US)(file)
  • (General Australian) IPA(key): /ˈɹɔki/, [ˈɹʷɔki]
  • Rhymes: -ɒki

Etymology 1

From Middle English rokki, rokky (“rocky”),[1] from rok, rokke (“rock; a rock or stone; large rock by a coast or in the sea; rocky outcrop on a mountain, cliff; castle, citadel, stronghold”) [and other forms][2] + -i (suffix forming adjectives).[3] Rok, rokke are derived from:

both from Medieval Latin roca, rocca; further etymology uncertain, possibly of Celtic origin. The English word is analysable as rock +‎ -y (suffix forming adjectives meaning ‘having the quality of’).[4][5]

Adjective

rocky (comparative rockier or more rocky, superlative rockiest or most rocky)

  1. Abounding in, or full of, rocks; consisting of rocks.
    a rocky mountain    a rocky shore
  2. Like a rock; rigid, solid.
    Synonyms: flinty; rocklike, rock-like; stonelike
  3. (Of an animal or plant) Having a habitat around or on rocks.
  4. (figuratively, archaic) Not easily affected or impressed; stony; hard; obdurate; unfeeling.
    to have a rocky heart
Derived terms
Translations
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Etymology 2

From rock (“to move back and forth”) +‎ -y (suffix forming adjectives meaning ‘having the quality of’).[5][6] Rock is derived from Middle English rokken (“to move (something, such as a cradle) back and forth; to move or sway back and forth in an unstable manner; to go”) […],[7] from Old English roccian (“to rock”), from Proto-Germanic *rukkōną (“to move; to move back and forth, rock”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃rewk- (“to dig; to till (soil)”).

Adjective

rocky (comparative rockier or more rocky, superlative rockiest or most rocky)

  1. Easily rocked; unstable.
    Synonyms: tottering, wobbly
    The table was rocky, so we put a book under one leg.
  2. (figuratively)
    1. Encountering many problems; difficult, troubled; also, in danger or distress.
      (encountering many problems): Synonyms: hard, tough; see also Thesaurus:difficult
      (in danger): Synonyms: unsteady; see also Thesaurus:unsteady
      Their relationship had weathered some rocky times, but they loved each other.
    2. (originally US) Of a person: ill, or unsteady (for example, as a result of a shock).
      Synonyms: shaky, unnerved, weakened
Derived terms
Translations

Etymology 3

From rock (“rock and roll music”) +‎ -y (suffix forming adjectives meaning ‘having the quality of’).[5][8]

Adjective

rocky (comparative rockier or more rocky, superlative rockiest or most rocky)

  1. In the style of rock music.
    Synonyms: rockish; rockesque; rocklike, rock-like
    His new album is quite rocky.
Translations

References
  1. “rokkī, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
  2. “rok(ke, n.(1)”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
  3. “-ī̆, suf.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
  4. Compare “rocky, adj.1”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, June 2021.
  5. “rocky, adj.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
  6. “rocky, adj.2”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, June 2021.
  7. “rokken, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
  8. “rocky, adj.3”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, September 2019.

Further reading

Anagrams
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