itchy English · revision 1880

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1530}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɪt͡ʃi/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|en|itch|-y]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(RHWU) Etymonline traces it to [[ang|ġiċċiġ]],^(Etymonline) which Random House calls a rare Old English word meaning “purulent, putrid”.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Affected with itching or the itch (1530).^(OED 1989)^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Johnson (1755) defined it as “infected with the itch”, the skin disease.^(Johnson 1755) From the itching of the skin it came to mean restless or craving something,^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024) as in figurative phrases such as ''itchy palm'', greed for money, attested by 1599 in Jonson (Shakespeare has ''itching palm'' in 1601).^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster Unabridged also records the sense of craving sexual gratification.^(MWU 2024) The informal phrase ''itchy feet'' means a strong urge to travel or move about.^(COED 2004)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1530 – first record.^(OED 1989)^(HTOED)^(RHWU)

+ * 1599 – ''itchy palm'' (Jonson).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1601 – ''itching palm'' (Shakespeare).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1755 – Johnson: infected with the itch.^(Johnson 1755)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Having or causing an [[itch]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)^(COED 2004)

+ # Restless or nervous; eager or longing for something.^(AHD)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Causing itching, as a rough fabric.^(MWU 2024)^(LDOCE 2009)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[itchiness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[itch]]

+ * [[scratchy]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In ''itchy feet'' (informal), the word expresses an urge to travel or move on.^(COED 2004)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}