[1605–15; tower1 + -y1]This word is first recorded in the period 1605–15. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: ideal, independent, pivot, surface, turnover-y is a native English suffix of adjectives meaning “characterized by or inclined to”the substance or action of the word or stem to which the suffix is attached. Otherwords that use the affix -y include: dreamy, grouchy, juicy, rumbly