Shaky
/ˈʃeɪ.ki/noun
Shaking, unsteady, or not firmly controlled; also doubtful or unreliable.
Did you know?‘Shaky’ comes from the Old English verb *sceacan* (“to shake”), a root that also lives in words like ‘shock’ and ‘shack,’ all carrying the ancient idea of sudden violent movement.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*skeg-
“To shake, move violently, or dart back and forth.”
Old English
English
sceacan
“To shake, brandish, move quickly, or cause to tremble.”
Middle English
English
shaken
“Shaken; trembling; unsteady.”
16th Century
English
shaky
“Inclined to shake; unsteady or shaky in body or condition.”
Modern English
English
shaky
“Shaking, unstable, or doubtful.”