# hickey

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈhɪk.i/ · frequency rank #25,088

## Definitions
1. A bruise-like mark made during petting by pressing the mouth to the skin on one’s partner’s body and sucking.
2. A similar mark made by the pressure of a musical instrument such as a violin or viola against the neck.
3. An object whose name is unknown or cannot be recalled.
4. A printing defect caused by foreign matter on the printing surface resulting in a ring where the ink is missing, appearing as a spot of ink surrounded by a halo, or as an unprinted spot within a solid printed area.
5. A serif or other ornamentation on type.
6. Local swelling in a tissue area, especially skin, often due to injury.
7. A tool for making smooth, semicircular bends in conduit and pipe.
8. An unintended negative outcome or loss in regards to a deal or action.

## Etymology
Unknown.

## Easily confused with
- **hike** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hickey-vs-hike)
- **Hicks** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hickey-vs-hicks)
- **hikes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hickey-vs-hikes)
- **hiked** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hickey-vs-hiked)
- **hiker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hickey-vs-hiker)
- **hokey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hickey-vs-hokey)
- **hockey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hickey-vs-hockey)
- **hickory** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hickey-vs-hickory)
- **Hinkley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hickey-vs-hinkley)
- **Hinckley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hickey-vs-hinckley)
- **hick** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hick-vs-hickey)
- **hacked** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hacked-vs-hickey)
- **hacker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hacker-vs-hickey)
- **Hackney** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hackney-vs-hickey)

## Common misspellings (9)
`hcikey`, `hhickey`, `hicckey`, `hiceky`, `hickeyy`, `hickkey`, `hickye`, `hikcey`, `ihckey`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/hickey