adjective
Dicky
DIH-kee
adjective
1
In poor or unreliable condition; shaky, unsound.
"He’s had a dicky knee ever since the accident."
"The old car has a dicky engine that stalls in traffic."
noun
1
A small bird, especially in the informal phrase "dicky-bird."
"A little dicky landed on the windowsill."
How to Use Dicky
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes something weak, unreliable, or likely to fail — often used for body parts or machinery.
When to use it
Informal, chiefly British.
Common pairings
a dicky heart
a dicky knee
dicky-bird
Word Forms
dickier comparative, dickier comparative, dickies plural, dickies plural, dickiest superlative, dickiest superlative
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He’s had a _____ knee ever since the accident.