Thickish, pronounced /ˈθɪkɪʃ/, is a word that means somewhat thick or fairly dense. The spelling of the word is a combination of the root word 'thick' and the suffix '-ish,' which means somewhat or to some degree. The 'th' sound in thick is pronounced as a voiceless dental fricative /θ/, while the 'k' sound is pronounced as a voiceless velar stop /k/. The '-ish' suffix is pronounced as /ɪʃ/, which sounds like 'ish' or 'itch.' Overall, the word thickish is pronounced as "thick-ish."
Thickish is an adjective used to describe something or someone that is somewhat thick or dense in form, consistency, or appearance. The term combines the root word "thick" with the suffix "-ish," which implies a slight or moderate degree of the characteristic being described.
When used to describe physical objects or substances, thickish suggests a relative thickness that is somewhat more substantial than average. It indicates that the object or substance is not excessively thick, but still possesses a noticeable degree of thickness. For example, a soup that is described as thickish would imply that it is not overly thick or heavy, but still moderately viscous or dense.
Thickish can also describe a person who has a slightly larger, heavier, or broader build or physique compared to average. It suggests that the person is not significantly overweight or overly muscular, but possesses a more substantial or solid frame.
In a metaphorical sense, thickish can be employed to describe ideas, accents, or languages that are somewhat hard to understand or decipher due to their complexity or intricacy. It indicates that such concepts or linguistic forms are not overwhelmingly difficult or impenetrable, but still require some level of effort or focus to comprehend fully.
Overall, thickish conveys a sense of something being moderately thick, dense, or substantial, without reaching an extreme or excessive level.
Somewhat thick.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word thickish is formed by adding the suffix -ish to the word thick. The suffix -ish is a versatile English suffix that is used to create adjectives, denoting a resemblance to or similarity with the base word. It implies a partial or somewhat quality. In the case of thickish, it suggests that something has some of the characteristics or qualities of being thick, but not completely or heavily so. The word thick, in turn, comes from Middle English thikke and Old English thicce, both meaning not thin or of great extent from one surface to another. The etymology of thick can be traced back to Proto-Germanic theku- and ultimately to the Proto-Indo-European root *tek-, which means to thicken or to grow.