DictionaryRoot: -y
English
-y
small, familiar, or affectionate
Forms
- -y
- -ie — An alternative spelling in familiar names.
Origin
An English familiar-name ending, influenced by earlier endings in -y; its development is not identical in every word.
Note
It can make a name warmer or more familiar without implying physical smallness.
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noun
ducky
A small toy or figure shaped like a duck.
Etymology
The familiar diminutive ending makes duck into an affectionate name for a small duck-shaped object. The toy is named for the bird whose shape it imitates.