[1880–85; squat + -y1]This word is first recorded in the period 1880–85. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: barnstorm, impressionism, interface, pari-mutuel, regionalism-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