Conference thebay::joyoflex

    
    My pint-sized Random House dictionary says it is any gadget or
    contrivance.
    
    When I was (much) younger, it was a mark left on the skin by a
    passionate sex partner, usually in the neck area, sometimes an
    embarassment, sometimes a badge of honor increasing one's stature among
    peers.  
    
    Nothing permanent, I think they were caused by too much pressure
    concentrating the blood in that area; a minor bruise.
    
    Mind, I only know this from extensive reading and perceptive
    observation.  (-; 

    It's a capillary bruise, which generally has a rather distinctive
    red color, rather than the blue or purple of a regular bruise. 
    Capillary bruises are produced by friction or pressure on the skin
    that causes the surface capillaries to break without damaging any
    underlying tissue, as happens from a blow. 
    
    It usually shows up on the accessible skin of one's upper body
    after a session of enthusiastic necking.   That's why turtlenecks,
    and scarves artistically tied around one's neck, are frequently
    part of the high school and college woman's wardrobe.
    
    I remember one time when I was in college, my roommate and her
    boyfriend (both of the type we would now call computer nerds,
    though we didn't use that term then) managed to give each other
    hickeys, hers on the chin and his on the nose.  She was able to
    claim she banged her chin on the sink while washing her hair, and
    get a lot of sympathy for her injury.  His, though, was
    unquestionably a hickey, and he got teased no end . . .
    
    --bonnie

A hickey is also the tool used by electricians to bend the metal conduit tubing 
that wiring is routed through.  For small conduit (1" - 1�") the hickey is a
J-shaped bar about a yard long.  For larger conduits there are hydraulic
devices. 

Our plant (BTO) is going through another interminable rewiring exercise.  The
contractors installing the main power conduits are using a gi-normous
hydraulic hickey to bend the 5 and 6 inch conduit.  Lots of sophomoric humor
about ("God, you've got a big hickey", "Hey man, you give good hickey!", etc.,
etc.) 

Larry

    G'day,
    
    The contrivance use seems alive and well downunder..
    
    A do-hihickey is a thingamajig..
    
    As to acceptable usage...
    when the blood is flowing and ones partner's likewise :-) 
    
    maybe that should be ;-)
    
    derek
    

    Re: .5
    
    Even in the US, a "do-hickey" is a "thingamajig" is a "whatchamacallit".
    
    I have no idea what a "do-hihickey" is.  (A typing error perhaps?  When
    discussing words like this, one can never be certain.)

    A hickey can be a "love bits"; it can also refer to a pimple.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.

    A hickey is an abbreviated burpy.
    

    
    G'day
    
    re .6
    
     A do-hihickey was the result of a set host from Singapore to
    Australia... the line was a wee bit slow for editing....so,
    lexically speaking, please remove one 'hi' and use it as and where
    best suited..
    
    
    derek
    

    Hickey is an Irish surname...
    
    A 'do-hickey' is what happens when you take one of his daughters
    out on a date Saturday night!
    
    - Dave K.
    

    Residents of central Massachusetts may be familiar with a certain
    package store in Shrewsbury center - Hickey's Liquors.
    
    Of course, no one would be so rude as to make a coarse and disgusting
    joke on the name of this honorable establishment...
    
    
    
    ...like HICKEY LICKERS!!!!!! 
    
    Bill

    
    In Auburn, Mass. there is also a Hickey's Bakery.  
    He bakes great party cakes...so make a joke out of that if you want to.