TICK'LISH, adjective Sensible to slight touches, easily tickled. The bottom of the foot is very ticklish as are the sides. The palm of the hand, hardened by use, it not ticklish 1. Tottering; standing so as to be liable to totter and fall at the slightest touch; unfixed; easily moved or affected. Ireland was a ticklish and unsettled state. 2. Difficult; nice; critical; as, these are ticklish times.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI