Etymology tree
Proto-Germanic *dūkaną
Proto-West Germanic *dūkan
Old English dū̆ce
Middle English doke
English duck
Proto-Indo-European *-kos
Proto-Germanic *-gaz
Proto-West Germanic *-g
Old English -iġ
Middle English -y
English -y
English ducky
From duck (“aquatic bird”) + -y.
Meanings
Resembling or characteristic of a duck.
A barrage of very ducky kazoo blats filled the air. 2016, Helaine Becker, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie:
Etymology tree
Proto-Germanic *dūkaną
Proto-West Germanic *dūkan
Old English dū̆ce
Middle English doke
English duck
Proto-Germanic *-j-, *-ij-
Proto-West Germanic *-i, *-ī
Old English -iġ
Middle English -y
English -y
English ducky
From duck (“aquatic bird”) + -y (diminutive suffix).
Meanings
(childish) A duck (aquatic bird), especially a toy rubber duck.
Do little things for your Inner Child, like taking bubble baths. Invite a rubber ducky to play with you... 1990, Donna LeBlanc, You can't quit until you know what's eating you:
Etymology tree
English duck
Proto-Germanic *-j-, *-ij-
Proto-West Germanic *-i, *-ī
Old English -iġ
Middle English -y
English -y
English ducky
From duck (term of endearment) + -y (diminutive suffix).
Meanings
A term of endearment.
"Morning, ducky!" said Roderick, as he gave his partner a quick peck on the cheek and sat down to breakfast.
Etymology tree
English duck
Proto-Indo-European *-kos
Proto-Germanic *-gaz
Proto-West Germanic *-g
Old English -iġ
Middle English -y
English -y
English ducky
From duck (term of endearment) + -y.
Meanings
(endearing, slang) Darling, charming, cute.
(dated, slang) Great; going well; proceeding in an eminently agreeable fashion.
Farnesworth smiled contentedly as he read the stock ticker; all was ducky on Wall Street.
Fortunately, she had bragged to everybody about her ducky first-floor apartment in the perfectly darling three-story red-brick. 1942, James Thurber, The Catbird Seat:
1930, Mickey Mouse newspaper comic
Isn't this the duckiest little leather skirt you ever saw?