English Explanatory Dictionary

leaky

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Having leaks; not fully sealed.
  2. Tending to leak secrets or information.

Pronunciation

/ˈliːki/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-leaky.wav

Word forms

leaky leakier leakiest

Etymology

Likely a normalisation ( + -y) of earlier leak, leake, leke (“leaky”, adjective), from Middle English leke (“leaky”), from Old English hlec, *lec (“having cracks or rents; leaky”), from Proto-Germanic *lekaz (“leaking; leaky”). By surface analysis, leak + -y. Cognate with Scots lek, leck (“leaky”), Saterland Frisian läk (“leaky”), Dutch lek (“leaky”), German Low German leck (“leaky”), German leck (“leaky”), Swedish läck (“leaky”), Icelandic lekur (“leaky”).

Derived words

leakily leakiness leaky abstraction leaky brain syndrome leaky bucket leaky gut syndrome leaky weir nonleaky unleaky
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