spicy English · revision 39527

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1562, W. Turner's Herbal}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈspaɪsi/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|en|spice|-y]], from the noun with the adjective suffix.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)^(Dictionary.com 2016)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Having the qualities of spice: 1562, in William Turner's ''Herbal'';^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024) Etymonline gives the 1560s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 17th century ''spicy'' was a poets' word: Milton used it of something flavoured with spice in ''L'Allegro'' (1645), and spicy breezes (1650) and spice-bearing lands (1646) followed.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) Johnson (1755) defined it as producing spice or aromatic, quoting Milton's "spicy shore Of Araby the blest".^(Johnson 1755) Slang uses appeared in the 19th century: full of spirit or "go" (1828), smart-looking (1846),^(OED 2026)^(GDoS) and, of writing or talk, pointed and somewhat scandalous or improper (1844);^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline) in dialect from Scotland to Wiltshire a ''spicy'' person or bonnet was smart or showy.^(Wright 1898) Etymonline dates the sense "hot in flavour", as of chilli peppers, to 1927.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1562 – having the qualities of spice.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1645 – flavoured with spice (Milton).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1646 – producing spices.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1650 – of air, fragrant.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1828 – (slang) full of spirit.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1844 – racy, slightly scandalous.^(OED 2026)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1846 – smart-looking.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1927 – hot in flavour, as of chillies.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Flavoured with [[spice]], or having a strong, [[pungent]] flavour; hot: ''This curry is too spicy for me.''^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # Having the [[fragrance]] of spice; [[aromatic]].^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+ # (informal) Slightly [[scandalous]] or improper; [[racy]]: ''a spicy piece of gossip''.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 2026)

+ # Producing or rich in spices.^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[spicily]]

+ * [[spiciness]]

+ * [[unspicy]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[spice]]

+ * [[species]]

+ * [[special]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}