forming adjectives and nouns with diminutive, and often mocking or pejorative, force
artsy, cutesy
-sy in American English
suffix
a suffix forming nouns or adjectives, sometimes a diminutive of the base word and usuallyconfined to informal and jocular use (bitsy; footsie; halvsies); adjectives formed with -sy may be ironic, implying that the quality in question is self-consciously assumed or feigned (artsy; cutesy; folksy). The combination of -s and -y in certain words (antsy; gutsy) should perhaps be considered further instances of this suffix
Word origin
[perh. orig. two distinct suffixes, one diminutive (as in Betsy, popsy, tootsy) and the other adjectival; sources of both are uncert.]