'alky' originates from 'alcoholic', specifically the word 'alcohol', where 'al-' meant 'the' and 'kohl' meant 'powdered antimony'.

'alcohol' transformed into the slang term 'alky' in American English, reflecting a more casual or derogatory reference to someone who drinks excessively.

Initially, it meant 'related to alcohol', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'an alcoholic person'.