colicky
|col-ic-ky|
🇺🇸
/ˈkɑːlɪki/
🇬🇧
/ˈkɒlɪki/
having or causing colic (severe abdominal pain)
Etymology
'colicky' originates from English, specifically the word 'colic' with the suffix '-y'; 'colic' itself originates from Greek, specifically the word 'kolikos', where 'kolon' meant 'colon'.
'colic' changed from Old French 'colique' and Medieval Latin 'colica' (from Greek 'kolikos') and eventually formed the modern English adjective 'colicky' by adding the suffix '-y'.
Initially, it meant 'relating to the colon' or 'pertaining to colic'; over time it evolved to mean 'suffering from colic' or 'causing severe abdominal pain (colic)'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
suffering from or prone to episodes of colic (severe, often cramping abdominal pain), especially used of infants or animals.
The colicky baby cried for hours despite feeding and rocking.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 2
causing colic or likely to produce colic (used of foods, conditions, or situations).
Certain formula mixes seemed to make some infants colicky.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/21 20:08