nickname etymology

Etymology

The word "nickname" is derived from the Middle English phrase "an eke name," which means "an additional name." It is a compound word formed from "an" (meaning "one") and "eke" (meaning "also" or "in addition").

Meaning

A nickname is an informal name or sobriquet given to a person or thing, usually based on their characteristics, appearance, or profession. It is typically used in place of or alongside the person's or thing's formal name.

Origin

Nicknames have been used throughout history in various cultures and languages. The practice of giving nicknames is believed to have originated as a way to identify individuals within a group or community, especially when they have common or similar names.

Examples

Some common examples of nicknames include:

• Shortened forms: Bob for Robert, Liz for Elizabeth
• Descriptive characteristics: Red for a redhead, Speedy for a fast person
• Physical features: Lefty for a left-handed person, Giggles for a child who laughs a lot
• Occupations: Doc for a doctor, Coach for a sports coach
• Humorous or playful: Froggy for a person who loves to swim, Captain Crunch for a cereal enthusiast

nickname relate terms

• nickname

  Etymology The word nickname is derived from the Middle English phrase an eke name wh

• newt

  Etymology Old English efta or newete Proto West Germanic awiton Proto Germanic

• nonce

  Etymology Middle English from Old French nonce from Latin nunc meaning now Meani

• Nashville

  Etymology and Meaning The name Nashville is derived from the following sources Nash

• apron

  Etymology Middle English napron from Old French naperon napron diminutive of nape

• auger

  Etymology The word auger originates from the Old French word augier or augor whic

• adder

  Etymology Old English æddre from Proto Germanic addri from Proto Indo European h₂

• umpire

  Etymology The word umpire has its origins in Old French where it was spelled oumpere

• anatomy

  Etymology Ana Greek prefix meaning upwards apart or through Tome Greek root

• annoyance

  Etymology Medieval Latin annoiare to make bored or weary 13th century Late Latin i

• Luxor

• jade

  Etymology Old English geade Middle English jade Ultimately derived from the Proto G

• lute

  Etymology From Middle English lute from Old French lut luth from Arabic al ʿūd

• omelet

  Etymology The word omelet comes from the French word omelette which itself is deriv

• adder

  Etymology Old English æddre from Proto Germanic addri from Proto Indo European h₂

• surname

  Etymology Surname The word surname derives from the Old French term surnom meaning

• bones

  Etymology The word bones comes from the Old English word bān Meaning Bones are

• stonewall

  Etymology The term Stonewall has its origins in the name of Thomas Stonewall Jackson

• pumpernickel

  Etymology The word pumpernickel is of German origin derived from the Low German phras

• moniker

  Etymology The word moniker is derived from the Greek word monos meaning single a

• name

  Etymology is the study of the origin and development of words It is a branch of historica

• mane

  Etymology Old English manu Proto Germanic manw Proto Indo European men to th