[1930–35; scared + -y2]This word is first recorded in the period 1930–35. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: DNA, acoustic phonetics, boondoggle, logical positivism, technical foul-y is a noun-forming suffix with a variety of functions in contemporary English, addedto monosyllabic bases to create words that are almost always informal. Its earliestuse, probably still productive, was to form endearing or familiar names or commonnouns from personal names, other nouns, and adjectives (Billy; Susie; birdie; doggie; granny; sweetie; tummy). The hypocoristic feature is absent in recent coinages, however, which are simplyinformal and sometimes pejorative (boonies; cabby; groupie; hippy; looie; Okie; preemie; preppy; rookie). Another function is to form from adjectives nouns that denote exemplary or extremeinstances of the quality named by the adjective (baddie; biggie; cheapie; toughie), sometimes focusing on a restricted, usually unfavorable sense of the adjective(sharpie; sickie; whitey). A few words in which the informal character of -y and -ie has been lost are now standard in formal written English (goalie; movie)
Examples of 'scaredy-cat' in a sentence
scaredy-cat
I watch from my scaredy-cat corner.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
So he is not a scaredy-cat.
Times, Sunday Times (2018)
She's not the only celeb scaredy-cat.
The Sun (2008)
However much of a scaredy-cat or an ostrich you were, he said, inertia at that point was not an option.