icicle — (n.) early 14c., isykle, from is ice + ikel icicle, from O.E. gicel icicle, ice (rel. to cylegicel cold ice ), from P.Gmc. *jekilaz (Cf. O.N. jaki piece of ice, dim. jökull icicle, ice, glacier; O.H.G. ihilla … Etymology dictionary
icicle — [ī′sik΄əl, ī′sə kəl] n. [ME isikel < OE * īsgicel (akin to ON isjökull) < īs, ICE + gicel, piece of ice, icicle (Brit dial. ickle), akin to ON jökull, icicle, glacier, jaki, lump of ice < IE base * yeg , ice > MIr aig, Welsh iā, ice,… … English World dictionary
Icicle — I ci*cle, n. [OE. isikel, AS. [=i]sgicel; [=i]s ice + gicel icicle; akin to Icel. j[ o]kull; cf. Gael. eigh ice, Ir. aigh.] A pendent, and usually conical, mass of ice, formed by freezing of dripping water; as, the icicles on the eaves of a house … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
icicle — ► NOUN ▪ a hanging, tapering piece of ice formed by the freezing of dripping water. ORIGIN from ICE(Cf. ↑iced) + dialect ickle «icicle», from Old English … English terms dictionary
icicle — [14] Historically, icicle is a tautology, meaning literally ‘ice icicle’. It originated in Middle English as a compound of ice and ickel ‘icicle’. This word, which survived dialectally into the 20th century as ickle, goes back to Old English… … The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins
icicle — [14] Historically, icicle is a tautology, meaning literally ‘ice icicle’. It originated in Middle English as a compound of ice and ickel ‘icicle’. This word, which survived dialectally into the 20th century as ickle, goes back to Old English… … Word origins
icicle — noun Etymology: Middle English isikel, from is ice + ikel icicle, from Old English gicel; akin to Old High German ihilla icicle, Middle Irish aig ice Date: 14th century 1. a pendent mass of ice formed by the freezing of dripping water 2. an… … New Collegiate Dictionary
icicle — n. an icicle forms; hangs down * * * [ aɪsɪk(ə)l] hangs down an icicle forms … Combinatory dictionary
icicle — UK [ˈaɪsɪk(ə)l] / US noun [countable] Word forms icicle : singular icicle plural icicles a long thin piece of ice that hangs down from somewhere … English dictionary
icicle — icicled, adj. /uy si keuhl/, n. 1. a pendent, tapering mass of ice formed by the freezing of dripping water. 2. a thin strip of paper, plastic, or foil, usually silvery, for hanging on a Christmas tree as decoration. 3. a cold, unemotional person … Universalium
