icicle
UK[ˈaɪ.sɪ.kəl]US[ˈaɪ.sɪ.kəl]
n
a hanging, tapering piece of ice formed by the freezing of dripping water.
Morpheme Breakdown
ice
icle
ice
icle
Etymology
the word "icicle" is a tautological compound, effectively meaning "ice-ice." it originates from middle english isikel, which was formed from old english īs (ice) combined with gicel (icicle, piece of ice). the old english gicel itself is derived from proto-germanic jekilaz, related to a root meaning "to freeze" or "frost." over time, the second element -gicel eroded to -ikel and then -icle, losing its independent meaning and becoming a mere suffix attached to "ice," thus creating a word that redundantly but vividly describes a small, pointed formation of ice.
Analysis
Structure: ice + icle
"ice" (from old english īs, meaning frozen water). "icle" (a diminutive suffix, from middle english ikel, from old english gicel, meaning "icicle, piece of ice").
Examples
a long, sharp icicle hung dangerously from the roof's edge.
the sunlight made the icicles glitter like crystal daggers.
she carefully knocked the icicles off the gutter to prevent them from falling.