rocky
adjectiveadjectiveadjectivecommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈɹɒki//
- United Kingdom/[ˈɹʷɒki]/
- United States//ˈɹɑki//
- United States/[ˈɹʷɑki]/
- Australia//ˈɹɔki//
Abounding in, or full of, rocks; consisting of rocks.
adjective
- 1
Abounding in, or full of, rocks; consisting of rocks.
a rocky mountain a rocky shore
The pihoihoi live in the island's interior, and the torea on its rocky shore.
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.
- 2
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.
- 3
Having a habitat around or on rocks.
- 4
archaicNot easily affected or impressed; stony; hard; obdurate; unfeeling.
to have a rocky heart
- 5
slangHaving 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?"
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’).
adjective
- 1
Easily rocked; unstable.
The table was rocky, so we put a book under one leg.
- 2
figurativeEncountering many problems; difficult, troubled; also, in danger or distress.
Their relationship had weathered some rocky times, but they loved each other.
- 3
figurativeOf a person: ill, or unsteady (for example, as a result of a shock).
Etymology
From rock (“to move back and forth”) + -y (suffix forming adjectives meaning ‘having the quality of’). 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”) […], 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
- 1
In the style of rock music.
His new album is quite rocky.
Etymology
From rock (“rock and roll music”) + -y (suffix forming adjectives meaning ‘having the quality of’).
Forms
- comparative
- rockier, more rocky
- superlative
- rockiest, most rocky
rocky · Abounding in, or full of, rocks; consisting of rocks.
Rocky · A diminutive of the male given names Robert, Ricky, Rocco,…rod · A straight, round stick, shaft, bar, cane, or staff.Rod · A nickname for the male given names Rodney and Roderick.