2007-04-30 05:41:00 · 17 answers · asked by gemini07 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
According to a report by the Straight Dope Science Advisory Board,
"Back in the days of Old and Middle English, everything was written by hand; "it was therefore common and easier to use agreed-upon abbreviations." An example of an abbreviation was Ric." for "Richard".
The abbreviations led to diminutives, such as "Rick".
Rhyming nicknames were fairly common in the 12th and 13th centuries, such as "Hick" and "Dick" from "Rick". "Dick and Hick were among the earliest of the rhyming nicknames, first appearing in writing around 1220."
Eventually Hick was dropped and "Dick" became a popular abbreviation or nickname for Richard.
2007-04-30 07:33:01 · answer #1 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is an excellent question!!
My partner is called Richard and I only ever call him Dicky, I often ask him how Dicky or Dick come from Richard but then how do you get Billy from William? This is what his dad gets called!!
He has no idea himself!!
Its a totally mad one but I love it and Dicky is all I will call him, plus it makes it easier as I also have a brother called Richard, but he gets Richie. Some Richards just suit Dicky, I think it became so popular in the 1920's and was just one of those 'cool' things to do back then, make other unrelated names out of your own lol, fun question put a smile on my face lol
(it has nothing to do with the size of his manhood, although Men have asked me before if I call him this because he's only little!! If anything it's the other way around!!!)
2007-04-30 05:56:55 · answer #2 · answered by littlebee 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Medieval pet form of RICHARD. The change in the initial consonant is said to have been caused by the way the trilled Norman R was pronounced by the English.
2007-04-30 05:51:01 · answer #3 · answered by Kate J 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's just a common derivative. Hey, the man wants to be a Dick, call him a Dick!
Sandy
2007-04-30 05:44:34 · answer #4 · answered by Sandy M 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Richard-> Rich-> Rick-> Dick
2007-04-30 05:43:32 · answer #5 · answered by germaine_87313 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Isomething to do with a famous Richard Dickson
2007-04-30 05:47:24 · answer #6 · answered by lushpoppy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the first Richard had a big one.
2007-04-30 05:43:27 · answer #7 · answered by Davie 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Following the death of Oliver Cromwell (military dictator or founder of parliamentary democracy depending on your point of view), he was succeeded by his son Richard who was extremely unpopular. Things were so bad, they threw him out and went back to having a monarchy. Most of our modern expressions containing Dick were first applied to him.
2007-04-30 05:56:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, most Richard's that I know are right dicks!!
2007-04-30 05:43:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Richard > Rick > Dick
2007-04-30 05:43:41 · answer #10 · answered by Paul E 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋