ticky box

See also: ticky-box

English

Alternative forms

• ticky-box

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Etymology 1

ticky (“a tick mark”) +‎ box. (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Or could be forming an informal adjective tick + -y?”)

Noun

ticky box (plural ticky boxes)

1. (informal) A blank square on a form in which a check mark or cross may be placed in order to indicate a selection.
   • 2006, Kay Sambell, Liz McDowell, Alistair Sambell, “Supporting diverse students: developing learner autonomy via assessment”, in Cordelia Bryan, Karen Clegg, editors, Innovative Assessment in Higher Education, Routledge, →ISBN, page 164:

     At college I took a sort of ticky box approach to doing my work. I'd say to myself, right, I've done that, I've measured that, I've read that.

Synonyms

• check box
• tick box

Etymology 2

tickey (“South African threepenny coin”) +‎ box.

Noun

ticky box (plural ticky boxes)

1. (South Africa, slang) A payphone; Alternative spelling of tickey box
   • 2008, Paula Nangle, The Leper Compound, Bellevue Literary Press, →ISBN, page 96:

     They were trying to figure out how to call long distance from the ticky box.