Where does “thickly” come from?

Thickly derives from Middle English thikly, formed by combining the adjective thik with the adverbial suffix -ly, which comes from Old English -līċ, ultimately from Proto-Germanic þekuz and Proto-Indo-European teg-, meaning to cover or be dense.

thickly (English): In a thick manner

Definitions

  1. In a thick manner

Ancestry of “thickly”, step by step

thickly traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English thick

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishthickRelatively great in extent from one surface to...
2Middle EnglishthikkeAlternative form of thicke
3Old Englishþiccethick
4Proto-West Germanicþikkwīthick
5Proto-Germanicþekuzthick
6Proto-Indo-Europeantégusthick
7Proto-Indo-Europeanteg-

via Middle English thikly

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishthiklyfully, completely; with thickness, thickly;...
2Middle English-lyAlternative form of -liche
3Old English-līċsuffix forming {{glossary|adjective}}s meaning...
4Proto-Germanic*-līk
Every word from Proto-Indo-European teg-