[1875–80; bilge + -y1]This word is first recorded in the period 1875–80. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: knockabout, massage, overdraft, weekend, weekender-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