-happyUsed freely during and since the 1939–45 war as the second element in many combinations: a. In a dazed, nervous, or light-headed state as a result of excessive strain, e.g. by exposure to bombs (bomb-happy), anti-aircraft fire (flak-happy), the desert (sand-happy), etc. b. Acting in an irresponsible, obsessive, or precipitate manner, e.g.gadget-happy (= obsessed with the acquisition of gadgets), trigger-happy (= liable to shoot at anything at any time). Cf. also slap-happy.
-happy/ˈhapi/suffix.
ORIGIN: from happyadjective.
Placed after nouns to form adjectives in senses (a) dazed or suffering stress as a result of exposure to something, as bomb-happy;(b) preoccupied with or overfree in the use of something, as trigger-happy.