finicky etymology

Etymology

• Origin: Late Middle English (adjective): perhaps ultimately from Frankish finikōn ‘to divide into tiny pieces, counterfeit,’ a derivative of finjan ‘to divide into tiny pieces.’
• First use: early 15th century

Meaning and Origin

The adjective finicky originally referred to someone who was overly precise or meticulous and who was difficult to please. This sense is still current, but finicky can also be used more generally to mean "fussy" or "capricious."

The word finicky is most likely of Frankish origin. The Frankish word finikōn meant "to divide into tiny pieces," and a derivative of this word, finjan, meant "to divide into tiny pieces." It is possible that finicky was originally used to describe someone who was so particular that they would even divide things into tiny pieces.

Over time, the meaning of finicky has changed somewhat. It is now more commonly used to describe someone who is fussy or capricious. However, the original sense of the word is still evident in its use to describe someone who is overly precise or meticulous.

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