rocky en · ADJ · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- [ˈɹʷɔki] (Australia)
- /ˈɹɔki/ (Australia)
- /ˈɹɑki/ (General-American)
- [ˈɹʷɒki] (Received-Pronunciation)
- (Midwestern-US) audio
- rŏk′ē (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈɹɒki/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- [ˈɹʷɑki] (General-American)
Etymology
From Middle English rokki, rokky (“rocky”), 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] + -i (suffix forming adjectives). Rok, rokke are derived from: * Old English *rocc (“rock”); and * Anglo-Norman roc, roce, roque, and Old French roce, roke, roque, variants of roche (“rock”); 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’).
Meanings
-
Abounding in, or full of, rocks; consisting of rocks.
When faced with a rockier or muddier section, look ahead for the easiest way across. This might involve hopping from one rock to another, or looking for flat sections or patches of vegetation that might be grippier.
2021, Claire Maxted, “Quick Start”, in The Ultimate Trail Running Handbook: Get Fit, Confident and Skilled Up to Go from 5K to 50K, London: Bloomsbury Sport, Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN, page 25:The pihoihoi live in the island's interior, and the torea on its rocky shore.
2003, Margaret Rose Orbell, Carolyn Lagahetau, Birds of Aotearoa: a natural and cultural history:a rocky mountain a rocky shore
-
Like a rock; rigid, solid.
Marsh went on as his prisoner drank. "Because you're caught in the middle of my alternate plan, Ram-Jam, which ram-jams your ass between the rockiest rock and the hardest hard place you ever imagined.
1988, Lloyd Pye Lloyd Pye, Mismatch, →ISBN, page 134:
- (qualifier:Of an animal or plant) Having a habitat around or on rocks.
-
(archaic, figuratively) Not easily affected or impressed; stony; hard; obdurate; unfeeling.
to have a rocky heart
-
(slang) Having little or no money; stony broke.
"Come, George, fork out. I'm sorry if you're rocky too but it's an absolute that it's no good going back without it." "'Rocky,' my God!" said George, echoing her shallow laugh. "Well—but how much do you need to square it?"
1934, Ernest Bramah, The Bravo of London:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more rocky | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| rockiest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| rockier | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most rocky | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Rocky Creek · Rockies · rockily · Rocky Mountain · Rocky Hill · Rocky Glen · Rocky River · Rocky Hall · rocky planet · Rocky Mountains · Rocky Mount · Rocky Point · Rocky View County · nonrocky · rocky road · rockiness · Rocky Ford · Rocky Face
Synonyms
stonelike · flinty · rocklike, rock-like
Translations (73)
ga sceireach (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · nl rotsig (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · it rupestre (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · is grýttur (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · eo rokriĉa (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · la saxōsus (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · de felsig (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · is klettóttur (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · it petroso (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · bg скалист (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · ka კლდისებრი (like a rock — see also rigid, rocklike, solid) · es pedroso (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · fi kallioinen (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · sq gurishte (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · nrf rotcheux (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · bg каменист (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · ml കല്ലൻ (like a rock — see also rigid, rocklike, solid) · uk скеля́стий (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · is steinóttur (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · sv tuff (not easily affected or impressed) · kk тасты (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · ka კლდოვანი (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · alt кайалу (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · eo roka (like a rock — see also rigid, rocklike, solid) · fi kivinen (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · ga boireannach (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · pl skalisty (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · is hraunóttur (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · fi kivisydäminen (not easily affected or impressed) · gl rochoso (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · de steinig (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · kk тастақ (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · fr rocheux (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · la lapidosus (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · is klungróttur (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · bg непоколебим (not easily affected or impressed) · sq siguri (like a rock — see also rigid, rocklike, solid) · ka კლდიანი (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · sv hård (not easily affected or impressed) · ga carraigeach (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · hy քարքարոտ (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · eo roka (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · fi kivikova (like a rock — see also rigid, rocklike, solid) · it sassoso (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · tr dimdik (like a rock — see also rigid, rocklike, solid) · alt ташту (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · ga creagach (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · sq ngurtësi (not easily affected or impressed) · is hrjóstrugur (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · hi पथरीला (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · non grjót (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · uk ске́льний (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · got 𐍃𐍄𐌰𐌹𐌽𐌰𐌷𐍃 (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · el βραχώδης (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · nn steinete (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · fi kova (not easily affected or impressed) · ga carrach (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · pt pedregoso (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · pt rochoso (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · nb steinete (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · ru камени́стый (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · ga achrannach (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · ru скали́стый (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · sv klippig (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · sv stenig (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · hi कठोर (like a rock — see also rigid, rocklike, solid) · grc πετρώδης (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · cs skalnatý (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · hu sziklás (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · cy creigiog (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · it roccioso (abounding in, or full of, rocks) · bg твърд (not easily affected or impressed) · es rocoso (abounding in, or full of, rocks)