tricky
Meaning
requiring care and skill because difficult or awkward.
deceitful or crafty.
Usage
the final question on the exam was particularly tricky.
he's a tricky negotiator, so be careful with the contract details.
fixing this leak is a tricky job that requires specialized tools.
Etymology
The word 'tricky' is a Modern English formation, originating in the early 18th century. It is built upon the noun 'trick', which entered Middle English from Old North French 'trique', a word of uncertain origin, possibly related to Dutch 'trik' meaning a whim or deception. The suffix '-y', of Old English origin, is a highly productive adjectival suffix used to form words meaning 'characterized by' or 'full of'. Therefore, 'tricky' literally means 'full of tricks', a sense which logically evolved to describe both things that are deceptively difficult to handle and people who are prone to deceit.
Analysis
The word is a simplex form derived from the base word 'trick' with the addition of the adjectival suffix '-y'.