"full of rocks," c. 1400, from rock (n.1) + -y (2); "unsteady," 1737, from rock (v.1). Meaning "difficult, hard" is recorded from 1873, and may represent a bit of both.
The Rocky Mountains so called by 1802, translating French Montagnes Rocheuses, first applied to the Canadian Rockies. "The name is not directly self-descriptive but is an approximate translation of the name of the former Native American people here known as the Assiniboin .... The mountains are in fact not noticeably rocky" [Room]. Bright notes that "These Indians were called /assiniipwaan/, lit. 'stone Sioux', by their Cree (Algonkian) neighbors".
双语例句
1. The paths are often very rocky so strong boots are advisable.
路上通常石头很多，所以最好穿结实耐磨的靴子。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Their relationship had gotten off to a rocky start.
他们的关系在磕磕绊绊中开始了。
来自柯林斯例句
3. A walker fell 80ft from a rocky pinnacle.
一位徒步者从一块80英尺高的尖锥形岩石上摔了下来。
来自柯林斯例句
4. The surrounding countryside is windswept and rocky.
