Dodgy
/ˈdɒdʒi/noun
Dishonest, unreliable, suspicious, or of poor quality.
Did you know?The root verb “dodge” has no securely established earlier origin; its history is genuinely obscure, making “dodgy” a rare everyday word built on a linguistic mystery.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
English
dodge
“To move suddenly aside or evade, especially to avoid a blow or obstacle”
17th Century
English
dodge
“To use evasive or tricky behavior”
18th Century
English
dodge
“A trick, maneuver, or dishonest evasion”
19th Century
English
dodgy
“Characterized by evasiveness, unreliability, or questionable honesty”
20th Century
British English
dodgy
“Suspicious, unsafe, faulty, or of poor quality”
Modern English
English
dodgy
“Untrustworthy, risky, or suspicious”