A nickname is a short, clever, cute, derogatory, or otherwise substitute name for a person or thing's real name, (for example, Nick is short for Nicholas). As a concept, it is distinct from a pseudonym, though there may be overlap between the two.
Etymology: In Middle English the word was ekename (from the verb to eke, "enlarge"; compare Swedish öknamn). Later, an ekename developed into a nickname.
Lots of things have nicknames
Table of contents |
2 Cities and their Nicknames 3 Some Common Items and their Nicknames |
Types of personal nickname:
1. A nickname may relate directly to a person's first name. Examples:
People and their Nicknames
2. A nickname may relate directly to a person's surname. Examples:
3. It may also relate indirectly to a surname. Examples:
4. A nickname may relate to the person's job. Examples:
5. It may relate (offensively or otherwise) to a person's nationality or place of origin. Examples:
6. It may relate to a person's physical characteristics. Examples:
Conversely, it may be used ironically for someone with the opposite characteristic, e.g. Curly for someone with straight hair - this form is very typical in Australian English, e.g:
- Blue for a person with red hair
- Shorty for a very tall person
- Slim for a fat person
- Grumpy
- Swotty
- Romeo
9. It may compare the person with a famous or fictional character. Examples:
- Napoleon or Hitler for someone with a dictatorial manner
- Tippecanoe for William Henry Harrison
- Dubya for George W. Bush, a president who uses and has acquired several other nicknames as well. Dubya is from the Texan pronunciation of 'w', Bush's middle initial.
Cities and their Nicknames
Some Common Items and their Nicknames
much to add here, this is a start