Etymology
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spicy (adj.)

1560s, from spice (n.) + -y (2). In reference to flowers, breezes, etc., "sweet-smelling," from 1640s. Figurative sense of "racy, salacious" dates from 1844. Related: Spiciness.

Entries linking to spicy

spice (n.)
c. 1200, "something added to food or drink to enhance the flavor, vegetable substance aromatic or pungent to the taste," also "a spice used as a medication or an alchemical ingredient," from Old French espice (Modern French épice), from Late Latin species (plural) "spices, goods, wares," in classical Latin "kind, sort" (see species). From c. 1300 as "an aromatic spice," also "spices as commodities;" from early 14c. as "a spice-bearing plant." Figurative sense of "attractive or enjoyable variation" is from 13c.; that of "slight touch or trace of something" is recorded from 1530s. Meaning "specimen, sample" is from 1790. Early druggists recognized four "types" of spices: saffron, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg.
-y (2)
adjective suffix, "full of or characterized by," from Old English -ig, from Proto-Germanic *-iga- (source also of Dutch, Danish, German -ig, Gothic -egs), from PIE -(i)ko-, adjectival suffix, cognate with elements in Greek -ikos, Latin -icus (see -ic). Originally added to nouns in Old English; used from 13c. with verbs, and by 15c. even with other adjectives (for example crispy).

updated on November 06, 2013

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Definitions of spicy from WordNet

spicy (adj.)
producing a burning sensation on the taste nerves;
I like my chili extra spicy
a spicy sauce
Synonyms: hot
spicy (adj.)
suggestive of sexual impropriety;
spicy gossip
Synonyms: blue / gamy / gamey / juicy / naughty / racy / risque
From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near spicy

spice

spice-box

spice-cake

spick-and-span

spicule

spicy

spider

spider-plant

spider-web

spidery

spiel

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