dicky² n also dickey. Cp OED ~ sb 8 'covering worn to protect the dress or upper part of it during work' (1847-); EDD sb² 1, 3; DC dickey (1916-) for sense 1; cp EDD dick sb² 'apron and bib worn by children' for sense 2.
   1 Hooded outer garment or blouse made of cloth; ADIKEY.
   1894 Evening Herald 4 Dec In came her husband in size and shape with a dicky on his body—hood up over his head. 1907 WALLACE 33 The adikey or 'dikey,' as Bob called it, was a seamless garment to be drawn on over the head and worn instead of a coat. 1912 CABOT 231 He was a silent boy, and a little shy ... his little white 'dickey' held most of the good qualities of dog, boy, and man. 1916 GRENFELL 130 Yet real men, indeed, they looked, when, on their removing their simple but effective canvas 'dickeys,' I got a view of their keen tanned faces. 1933 MERRICK 265 We had our dickies belted tight and the fur hoods up. 1941 DULEY 196 She wants to be photographed, but she wants you to wait until she changes her dicky—probably for the one she wears to church. 1966 BEN-DOR 35 The two-part frock is known to the settlers as a 'dickey.' 1973 GOUDIE 57 I was all dressed up in my boots and dickie.
   2 A woollen bib worn by children.
   Q 71-8 A dicky was a sort of woollen bib attached to a collar—used to keep the neck and chest warm and protected without the weight of a regular sweater or guernsey.

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