Picky
/ˈpɪk.i/noun
Showing a strong preference for particular options and rejecting many others.
Did you know?Picky is formed from pick plus the suffix -y, turning an act of selective choosing into a description of someone’s character or habits.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic or Medieval Germanic period
Germanic
*pik-
“A reconstructed root associated with pointed objects or piercing; its connection to later pick is probable but not fully certain.”
12th–13th Century
Middle English
piken
“To pierce, prick, or make a pointed choice; the verb developed several senses involving selecting or extracting.”
14th Century
Middle English
pikken
“To pick, pluck, or choose selectively.”
15th–16th Century
English
pick
“To choose or select, as well as to remove, gather, or pierce with a pointed tool.”
19th Century
English
picky
“Particular or difficult to please, formed from pick with the adjectival suffix -y.”
Modern English
English
picky
“Highly selective, especially about food, possessions, or personal preferences.”