NYT Dictionary

ROCKY

/ˈɹɑki/
AdjectiveROCK-yrock-y · 2 syllablesGrade 9

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019, 2020, 2025

Meaning

Abounding in, or full of, rocks; consisting of rocks.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

From Middle English rokki, rokky (“rocky”), from rok, rokke (“rock; a rock or stone; large rock by a coast or in the sea; rocky outcrop on a mountain, cliff; castle, citadel, stronghold”) [and other forms] + -i (suffix forming adjectives). Rok, rokke are derived from: * Old English *rocc (“rock”); and * Anglo-Norman roc, roce, roque, and Old French roce, roke, roque, variants of roche (“rock”); both from Medieval Latin roca, rocca; further etymology uncertain, possibly of Celtic origin. The English word is analysable as rock + -y (suffix forming adjectives meaning ‘having the quality of’).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

flintyrocklike, rock-likestoneliketotteringwobblyhardtougharduouschallengingnasty

Antonyms

smooth

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle:

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