Rickety Meaning
/ˈɹɪk.ɪ.ti/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjOf an object: not strong or sturdy, as because of poor construction or upkeep; not safe or secure.
adjFeeble in the joints; tottering.
Sentence Examples
The newborn giraffe stumbled around on rickety legs.
Tom carefully climbed up the rickety staircase.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The old wooden chair was so ____ that it could break any moment.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The old wooden bridge was so ____ that the hikers crossed it one at a time to avoid putting too much weight on it.
Word Origin & History
From dialectal ricket (“unstable, rickety”) + -y, and/or ricket (“to move noisily and in a reckless way”) + -y. Alternatively, and perhaps less likely, from rickets + -y.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"She now knew every article Mrs Dibble had to sell, and the large part of the stock that was unsaleable by reason of its damaged state. Customers turned away from rickety chairs, stands of drawers that refused to open, or had no handles, lop-sided wardrobes whose doors were out of plumb or whose mirrors were cracked."
— 1950, Norman Lindsay, Dust or Polish?, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 61:
Explore More C2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The old wooden chair was so ____ that it could break any moment.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The old wooden bridge was so ____ that the hikers crossed it one at a time to avoid putting too much weight on it.