2006-07-13 20:08:38 · 8 answers · asked by Jon 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Most English-speaking Americans are familiar with the ways in which nicknames and diminutives are formed in the U.S. Typically, the last syllable is removed and sometimes the long e sound is appended to make it diminutive. For example, "Joseph" is truncated to "Joe", and the long e sound is added to form "Joey". Anglo-Saxon names often change the first letter of a diminutive. Robert becomes Rob becomes Bob becomes Bobby; William becomes Will becomes Bill becomes Billy; Richard becomes Rich becomes Rick becomes Dick.
2006-07-13 20:15:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe it's a result of British rhyming slang. Richard abbreviates to Rick. Rick, subsequently, rhymes with "dick", which is considered to be a colloquialism for a part of the male genital system. As most users of British rhyming slang tend to be a bit on the vulgar side, or at least more likely to utilize such vocabulary, it seems logical that this could be where it comes from.
2006-07-13 20:12:35 · answer #2 · answered by Trapdoor 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wonder the same thing. If someones name is richard cranuim then his nick would be dick head
2006-07-13 20:13:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the first man whoever lived was named Richard....Richard Simmons... and he was such a dick that the nickname stuck with him throughout the years...
2006-07-13 20:12:06 · answer #4 · answered by joangela1210 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The same way Bill is a nickname for William! Or Ted for Edward! Or Jack for John!
2006-07-13 20:12:06 · answer #5 · answered by Jimmy Pete 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Better yet how is Peggy the nickname for Margaret?
2006-07-13 20:11:53 · answer #6 · answered by bombhaus 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
by a man named Nixon ??
2006-07-13 20:14:21 · answer #7 · answered by ostrom57 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rick...
2006-07-13 20:11:34 · answer #8 · answered by D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋