Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(orig. US) notable for complaints, filled with complaints.

1889

World (N.Y.) 26 Sept. 3/1: Umpire McQuaid has not had the pleasantest time during the series just played. Things have been growing steadily more ‘kicky’ since the first inning of the first game. On Monday and Tuesday Buck was good natured in his kicks, but today ‘the people’ were losing and the temper of the captain took a corresponding turn.