itchy

adj

Etymology: From Middle English *yicchy, *ȝicchi, from Old English ġiċċiġ (“itchy”), equivalent to itch + -y. Cognate with Scots yeukie (“itchy”), West Frisian jokkerich (“itchy”), Dutch jeukachtig and jeukerig (“itchy”).

1. Characterized by itching. (of a condition)

   “an itchy rash”

   “Excess, the scrophulous and itchy plague / That seizes first the opulent”

2. Feeling an itching sensation; feeling a need to be scratched. (of a person, animal or body part)

   “My nose always gets itchy the moment I put on my face mask.”

   “Q. What do you mean by a natural, but sickly delight? A. I mean such a delight as Itchie people have to scratch, green-sickness Garles to eat coles and chalk, and those in a burning Fever, to drink cold drink.”

3. Causing an itching sensation.

   “He refuses to wear the new sweater; he says it’s itchy.”

   “the itchy sound, the brisk and scratchy sound, of combing hairs out of a stiff brush”

4. In a state of agitation; easily alarmed.

   “Casy said softly, “All of ’em’s itchy. Them cops been sayin’ how they’re gonna beat the hell outa us an’ run us outa the county. […]””

   “1966, Robert A. Heinlein, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, Chapter 16, in Worlds of If, Volume 16, No. 1, Issue 98, January, 1966, p. 77, […] I got itchy wondering whether I could go inside Complex without being nabbed.”

5. Having a constant, teasing desire (for something, to do something); impatiently eager.

   “Who simply stares and listens / Tongue-tied, while eye nor glistens / Nor brow grows hot and twitchy, / Nor mouth, for a combat itchy, / Quivers with some convincing / Reply”

   ““So I went over to see Miss Huntress and after a lot of finagling around with this itchy-handed house dick I got to see her and we had a chat […]””

6. Causing a constant, teasing desire for something.

   “They are curious with the itchy curiosity of their explorative time of life, and they have no proper guidance.”

   “A bachelor at sixty-eight and an uneasy drinker, Holcomb was seized with an itchy, reminiscent lust whenever he drank too much […]”

7. Feeling or showing a high level of sexual interest.

   “Car[dochia]. That slave in obscene language courted me, / Drew reals out, and would have bought my body, / Diego, from thee. / Die[go]. Is he so itchy? I'll cure him.”

   “what’s all the delight, / That seemes so pleasing to the itchie whorer?”