shackly C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities US /ˈʃækli/ UK /ˈʃækli/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 adj chiefly dialectal: rickety, shaky, or poorly built The shackly wagon rattled whenever its wheels struck a rut. 2 adj chiefly dialectal: loose-jointed or shambling in movement The old horse moved with a shackly gait across the yard. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · chiefly dialectal: rickety,... ricketyramshackle 2 adj · chiefly dialectal:... shamblingunsteady ↔ Opposites sturdysteady Word family Related forms shackleshaky Etymology Probably formed from dialectal shackle, 'to shake or rattle,' plus -y. Both established senses are chiefly dialectal. Topics Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # shackly **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /ˈʃækli/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈʃækli/ ## Meanings 1. chiefly dialectal: rickety, shaky, or poorly built 2. chiefly dialectal: loose-jointed or shambling in movement ## Examples - The shackly wagon rattled whenever its wheels struck a rut. - The old horse moved with a shackly gait across the yard. ## Synonyms - rickety - ramshackle - shambling ## Antonyms - sturdy - steady ## Related Forms - shackle - shaky ## Etymology Probably formed from dialectal shackle, 'to shake or rattle,' plus -y. Both established senses are chiefly dialectal. ## Topics - Describing Qualities - Word Formation & Derivatives - Register & Style markdown