English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Clipping of alcoholic +‎ -ie. First use appears c. 1844 in the defunct periodical Akron Ohio Buzzard.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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alkie (plural alkies)

  1. (informal) An alcoholic.
    • 1966, Edward Albee, A Delicate Balance:
      You want to know what it's like to be an alkie, don't you, boy?
    • 1994, Faye Morgan, Riding the Gold Curve:
      Also, she fed patients who were unable to feed themselves and, occasionally, dealt with an alkie who treated a patient badly.

Synonyms

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