rickety

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   inclined to shake as from weakness or defect

   a rickety table

2. 2
   adj

   affected with, suffering from, or characteristic of rickets

   rickety limbs and joints

3. 3
   adj

   Of an object: not strong or sturdy, as because of poor construction or upkeep; not safe or secure.

   He hesitated about climbing such a small, rickety ladder.

4. 4
   adj

   Feeble in the joints; tottering.

   The rickety old man hardly managed to climb the stairs.

5. 5
   adj

   lacking bodily or muscular strength or vitality

6. 6
   adj

   Affected with or suffering from rickets; rachitic.

Etymology

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.