trusty
UK: ˈtrʌsti | US: ˈtrʌsti
adj. reliable or dependable in character or performance
n. (archaic) a trustworthy person, especially a prisoner granted special privileges
The word "trusty" originates from Middle English, combining the noun "trust" (from Old Norse "traust," meaning "confidence" or "support") with the suffix "-y," which forms adjectives indicating a quality (e.g., "windy," "happy"). Initially used to describe someone or something worthy of trust, it later acquired a specific noun sense in penal contexts, referring to a dependable prisoner. The evolution reflects a straightforward compounding of "trust" + "-y," preserving the core idea of reliability.
His trusty dog followed him everywhere.
The old sailor relied on his trusty compass.
She handed the task to her most trusty assistant.
(Archaic) The jailer assigned chores to the trusties.
This trusty tool has served me well for decades.