English Explanatory Dictionary

icicle

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A drooping, tapering shape of ice.

Pronunciation

/ˈʌɪsəkəl/ /ˈaɪs.ɪkl̩/ /ˈaɪ.sɪ.kl̩/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-icicle.wav

Word forms

icicle icicles

Etymology

From Middle English isykle, isikel, from Old English *īsġicel, from Proto-West Germanic *īsajikil, *īsajekul, equivalent to ice + ickle. It was assimilated to nouns in -icle, from Latin -iculus—the expected spelling would have -ickle. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Iesjuukel (“icicle”), German Low German Iesjökel, dialectal Danish jisegel (“icicle”), Norwegian isjukel (“icicle”) and Elfdalian aisikkel.

Derived words

brinicle icicled icicle plant icicle radish icicular lavacicle pissicle popsicle rusticle snotsicle
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