Nickname

Pronunciation

• IPA: /nɪkneɪm/

Origin

Middle English nekename ("nickname"), alteration (due to an incorrect division of the words an ekename as a nekename) of previous ekename ("nickname"), from eke ("also, additional") + name ("name"). Compare Old Norse aukanafn ("nickname") and Low German Ökelname, Ekelname ("nickname").

For incorrect division, see also apron, newt, orange, umpire, daffodil.

Full definition of nickname

Noun

1. A familiar, invented given name for a person or thing used instead of the actual name of the person or thing.
2. A kind of byname that describes a person by a characteristic of that person.

Synonyms

• (familiar invented given name) handle, hypocoristic, moniker, nick, sobriquet, pet name
• (byname) antonomasia, byname, cognomen

Verb

1. (transitive) To give a nickname to (a person or thing).