Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (also ickem) anything disgusting, e.g. greasy dirt; also attrib.

1947		S. Lewis Kingsblood Royal (2001) 306: There’s an ick, jam or something, on your tie.
1978		A. Maupin Tales of the City (1984) 137: She [...] scrubbed the ick off the back of the stove.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. 109: ickem Soft animal manure. Possibly an extension of ‘icky’, meaning sticky and unpleasant.
2012		Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 20 May 🌐 The ’ick’ factor is still very much present when it comes to breast-feeding.

2. in fig. use, something unpleasant.

1997–2002		Hope College ‘Dict. of New Terms’ 🌐 ick n. The state of realization where a female or male determines that they do not want to pursue a relationship and are happy being single.
2024		Indep. (London) 17 Feb. 🌐 Has speaking like you swallowed several back copies of Debrett’s become a bit of an ick.