tricksyadj.
/ˈtrɪksi/, U.S. /ˈtrɪksi/ 1. Artfully trimmed or decked; spruce, smart, fine.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beauty > pleasing appearance > [adjective] > neat or trim
netc1330
pertc1330
cleanc1386
nicec1400
picked?c1425
dapperc1440
feata1471
gim1513
trig1513
well-trimmedc1513
trick1533
smirk1534
tricksy1552
neat1559
netty1573
deft1579
primpc1590
briska1593
smug1598
spruce1598
sprink1602
terse1602
compt1632
nitle1673
sprig1675
snod1691
tight1697
smugged1706
snug1714
pensy1718
fitty1746
jemmy1751
sprucy1774
smartc1778
natty1785
spry1806
perjink1808
soigné1821
nutty1823
toiletted1823
taut1829
spick and span1846
spicy1846
groomed1853
spiffy1853
well-groomed1865
bandboxy1870
perjinkity1880
spick-span1888
bandbox1916
tiddly1925
whip-smart1937
spit and polish1950
spit-and-polished1977
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > [adjective] > ornamented or decorated > trimmed or decked out
well-trimmedc1513
trimmed?1533
tricksy1552
finified1628
dizened1775
1552 H. Latimer Serm. John xv. 12 (1572) 153 Let them go as tricksie as they wil in this world, yet for all that they be foule and filthy inough before God.
1577 T. Kendall tr. Politianus et al. Flowers of Epigrammes f. 19v Thou wandrest trixsie trimsie fine, with crispt and curled heare.
1589 A. Fleming tr. Virgil Georgiks iii. 51 in A. Fleming tr. Virgil Bucoliks When he is new become againe, Hauing cast off his skin, and tricksie trim with youth afresh.
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Immarzapanato, become or made fine,..sweete, or daintie,..trickesie, and trim as a marchpane.
1631 J. Mabbe tr. F. de Rojas Spanish Bawd vii. 88 To see every thing so trimme and tricksie about you.
a1820 J. R. Drake Culprit Fay (1835) iv. 12 Their little minim forms arrayed In the tricksy pomp of fairy pride!
1852 ‘I. Marvel’ Dream Life 150 The tricksy panoply that he has wrought out of the mettle of his classics.
2. Full of or given to tricks or pranks; playful, sportive; mischievous, capricious, whimsical.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > frolicking or romping > [adjective]
ramping1484
rampish1530
frolic?1548
prankya1556
hoiting1594
tricksy1598
tida1641
frolickish1660
romping1662
hoity-toity1690
rompish1696
frolicsome1699
friskful1728
highty-tighty1737
frolicky1748
prankish1776
rollicking1786
prankfula1795
pranksome1810
tricksome1815
espiègle1816
larkish1823
skylarking1826
larking1828
rompy1838
larky1841
rollicksome1841
Pucklike1845
rollicky1846
frolicful1848
larksome1871
puckish1874
horseplayish1882
frolicking1887
tricksical1889
shenaniganning1924
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > inconstancy > [adjective] > capricious or whimsical
startfulmood?a1300
wildc1350
volage?a1366
gerfulc1374
geryc1386
wild-headeda1400
skittishc1412
gerish1430
shittle1440
shittle-witted1448
runningc1449
volageous1487
glaikit1488
fantasious1490
giggish1523
tickle or light of the sear?1530
fantastical1531
wayward1531
wantona1538
peevish1539
light-headed1549
humoral1573
unstaid1579
shittle-headed1580
toy-headed1581
fangled1587
humorous1589
choiceful1591
toyish1598
tricksy1598
skip-brain1603
capricious1605
humoursome1607
planetary1607
vertiginous1609
whimsieda1625
ingiddied1628
whimsy1637
toysome1638
cocklec1640
mercurial1647
garish1650
maggoty1650
kicksey-winseya1652
freakish1653
humourish1653
planetic1653
whimsical1653
shittle-braineda1655
freaking1663
maggoty-headed1667
maggot-pated1681
hoity-toity1690
maggotish1693
maggot-headeda1695
whimsy-headed1699
fantasque1701
crotchetly1702
quixotic1718
volatile1719
holloweda1734
conundrumical1743
flighty1768
fly-away1775
dizzy1780
whimmy1785
shy1787
whimming1787
quirky1789
notional1791
tricksome1815
vagarish1819
freakful1820
faddy1824
moodish1827
mawky1837
erratic1841
rockety1843
quirkish1848
maggoty-pated1850
crotchetya1854
freaksome1854
faddish1855
vagrom1882
fantasied1883
vagarisome1883
on-and-offish1888
tricksical1889
freaky1891
hobby-horsical1893
quirksome1896
temperamental1907
up and down1960
untogether1969
fanciful-
fantastic-
1598 J. Marston Scourge of Villanie ii. Proem. sig. D8 Tricksey tales of speaking Cornish dawes.
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. v. 64 I doe know a many fooles..garnisht like him, that for a tricksie word defie the matter. View more context for this quotation
1604 T. Dekker & T. Middleton Honest Whore iv. iii. 50 (stage direct.) Enter Candido like a Prentise. Wife. Why how now mad-man? what in your tricksicoates!
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) v. i. 229 Ariel. Sir, all this seruice Haue I done... Prospero. My tricksey Spirit. View more context for this quotation
1834 T. Carlyle Sartor Resartus i. iv. 11/1 A rich, idiomatic diction, picturesque allusions, fiery poetic emphasis, or quaint tricksy turns.
1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus Poems ii. 5 My lady..Bends her splendour awhile to tricksy frolic.
1895 S. R. Crockett Love Idylls (1901) 125 The tricksy maid clapped her hands and laughed merrily.
3. Full of tricks or deception; tricky, crafty, cunning, cheating.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > [adjective]
warec888
craftyOE
hinderyeapc1000
yepec1000
foxc1175
slya1200
hinderc1200
quaint?c1225
wrenchfulc1225
wiltfula1250
wilyc1330
subtle1340
cautelous138.
sleightful1380
subtile1387
enginousa1393
wilfula1400
wilyc1407
sleighty1412
serpentinec1422
ginnousa1425
wittya1425
semyc1440
artificial?a1475
sleight1495
slapea1500
shrewdc1525
craftly1526
foxy1528
gleering?1533
foxish1535
insidious1545
vafrous1548
wily beguile1550
wilely1556
fine1559
todly1571
practic1585
subdolous1588
captious1590
witryff1598
cautel1606
cunninga1616
versute1616
shiftfula1618
artificious1624
insidiary1625
canny1628
lapwing-like1638
pawky?a1640
tricksome1648
callid1656
versutious1660
artful1663
slim1674
dexterous1701
trickish1705
supple1710
slid1719
vulpinary1721
tricksy1766
trickful1775
sneck-drawing1786
tricky1786
louche1819
sneck-drawn1820
slyish1828
vulpine1830
kokum1839
spidery1843
dodgy1861
ladino1863
carney1881
slinky1951
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > [adjective]
ficklea1000
hinderyeapc1000
swikelc1000
as right (also stiff, straight, crooked, etc.) as a ram's hornOE
fakenOE
swikefulc1100
frakelc1175
swikec1175
wrenchfulc1225
wielfulc1275
ginfulc1300
guileful13..
treacherousc1330
guilesomea1382
guilousc1384
enginousa1393
deceivant1393
treacherc1400
serpentinec1422
deceivousa1425
guilyc1430
beguilous1483
slapea1500
fallacious1509
treget1519
gaudya1529
beguileful1530
Spanish1530
juggling?1531
snakish1532
prestigious?1534
knack-hardy1549
pratting1570
fogging1585
snakya1586
abusive1595
faithless1597
faiterous1600
guiled1600
trompant1605
amusing1609
braida1616
dodging1625
Ulyssean1639
tricksome1648
knackish1660
hocus-pocus1668
bubbling1675
rusé1689
tricking1697
trickish1705
lurching1728
tricksy1766
trickful1775
tricky1786
slippy1828
shirky1847
dodgy1861
sidewinding1902
slithery1902
hyping1968
deceiteous-
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield II. vii. 112 I still continued tricksy and cunning, and was poor, without the consolation of being honest.
1809–10 S. T. Coleridge Friend (ed. 3) I. 25 The tricksy humilities of the ambitious candidates for the favorable suffrages of the judicious public.
1856 R. A. Vaughan Hours with Mystics (1860) I. 241 Willoughby had to tell of the escapades of tricksy trout.
4. That is apt to play tricks upon one; that needs cautious handling: = tricky adj. 2, ticklish adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [adjective] > difficult or delicate
fine-fingered1549
brickle1568
kittle1568
tickle1569
delicate1574
trickle1579
chary1581
ticklesome1585
ticklish1591
jealous1600
tender1625
nicea1630
thorny1653
parlous1657
tricksy1835
niggling1851
tricky1868
catchy1874
pernickety1884
trickish1900
fiddly1926
footery1929
1835 N. P. Willis Pencillings I. xxi. 146 The second and third stories are ornamented with tricksy-looking iron balconies.
1862 Morning Star 21 May Kidderminster is a tricksy borough. Its people have a knack of taking their own way.
1899 H. Sutcliffe Shameless Wayne i. 7 A lass is tricksy handling at such times.
Derivatives
ˈtricksical adj. inclined to be tricksy or to play tricks.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > frolicking or romping > [adjective]
ramping1484
rampish1530
frolic?1548
prankya1556
hoiting1594
tricksy1598
tida1641
frolickish1660
romping1662
hoity-toity1690
rompish1696
frolicsome1699
friskful1728
highty-tighty1737
frolicky1748
prankish1776
rollicking1786
prankfula1795
pranksome1810
tricksome1815
espiègle1816
larkish1823
skylarking1826
larking1828
rompy1838
larky1841
rollicksome1841
Pucklike1845
rollicky1846
frolicful1848
larksome1871
puckish1874
horseplayish1882
frolicking1887
tricksical1889
shenaniganning1924
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > inconstancy > [adjective] > capricious or whimsical
startfulmood?a1300
wildc1350
volage?a1366
gerfulc1374
geryc1386
wild-headeda1400
skittishc1412
gerish1430
shittle1440
shittle-witted1448
runningc1449
volageous1487
glaikit1488
fantasious1490
giggish1523
tickle or light of the sear?1530
fantastical1531
wayward1531
wantona1538
peevish1539
light-headed1549
humoral1573
unstaid1579
shittle-headed1580
toy-headed1581
fangled1587
humorous1589
choiceful1591
toyish1598
tricksy1598
skip-brain1603
capricious1605
humoursome1607
planetary1607
vertiginous1609
whimsieda1625
ingiddied1628
whimsy1637
toysome1638
cocklec1640
mercurial1647
garish1650
maggoty1650
kicksey-winseya1652
freakish1653
humourish1653
planetic1653
whimsical1653
shittle-braineda1655
freaking1663
maggoty-headed1667
maggot-pated1681
hoity-toity1690
maggotish1693
maggot-headeda1695
whimsy-headed1699
fantasque1701
crotchetly1702
quixotic1718
volatile1719
holloweda1734
conundrumical1743
flighty1768
fly-away1775
dizzy1780
whimmy1785
shy1787
whimming1787
quirky1789
notional1791
tricksome1815
vagarish1819
freakful1820
faddy1824
moodish1827
mawky1837
erratic1841
rockety1843
quirkish1848
maggoty-pated1850
crotchetya1854
freaksome1854
faddish1855
vagrom1882
fantasied1883
vagarisome1883
on-and-offish1888
tricksical1889
freaky1891
hobby-horsical1893
quirksome1896
temperamental1907
up and down1960
untogether1969
fanciful-
fantastic-
1889 Pall Mall Gaz. 28 May 3 Imagination is, indeed, a tricksical jade.
ˈtricksily adv. in a tricksy or sportive manner.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > frolicking or romping > [adverb]
trenchmore1577
frolicly1592
ahoit1598
hoity-toity1734
rollickingly1842
friskily1862
tricksily1866
frolicsomely1874
prankishly1883
larkingly1896
daffingly1902
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > inconstancy > [adverb] > capriciously
unstaidly1556
fantastically1567
humorously1593
skittishly1598
fantasticly1599
garishly1606
humoursomely1653
whimsily1654
quirkishly1673
peevishlya1680
whimsically1711
fancifully1741
capriciously1746
flightily1780
erratically1861
tricksily1866
vagariously1892
quirkily1926
1866 W. R. Alger Solitudes Nature & Man iii. 163 The heathen deities,..that once tricksily danced over the classic landscapes.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† tricksyv.
Obsolete. rare.
transitive. To make ‘tricksy’ or spruce.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautify (the person) [verb (transitive)]
highta1200
atiffe?c1225
tiff?c1225
wyndre?a1366
kembc1386
picka1393
prunec1395
tifta1400
varnishc1405
finea1425
tifflea1425
quaint1484
embuda1529
trick?1532
trick1545
dill1548
tricka1555
prink1573
smug1588
sponge1588
smudge1589
perk1590
primpc1590
sponge1592
tricksy1598
prime1616
sprug1622
briska1625
to sleek upa1625
trickify1678
prim1688
titivate1705
dandify1823
beflounce1824
befop1866
spry1878
lustrify1886
dude1899
doll1916
tart1938
youthify1945
pansy1946
spiv1947
dolly1958
zhuzh1970
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Nimfarsi, to trim, to smug, to trixie, to decke or spruce himselfe vp as a nimphe.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1914; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
<
adj.1552
v.1598