shackly

adjective

shack·​ly

-k(ə)lē

1

chiefly dialectal : rickety, ramshackle

2

chiefly dialectal : loose-jointed, shambling

Word History

Etymology

probably from English dialect shackle to shake, rattle (from English dialect shack to shake + English -le) + English -y

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!