A few days ago
hubbard_raimon

How in the world……………?

does dick become a nickname for richard?

Top 2 Answers
A few days ago
Fig Newton

Favorite Answer

The boy’s name Dick \d(i)-ck\ is pronounced dik. It is of English origin. A rhyming nickname from medieval times. Richard (Old German) “dominant ruler”, was shortened to Rick, then rhymed to Dick, and variants like Dickson and Dix (which is also the French word meaning “ten”) followed.
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A few days ago
pilgrimspadre
Hi!

Medieval archers used to aim at a small piece of chalk at the top of a wand. This was called a “prick”, which looked from a distance a little like a phallus.

The prick was a small target compared to the butts or mocking-jay, so someone considered to have a low intellect was often called a prick head, which has come into common parlance as “Dick Head!”. Non of this has anything whatsoever to do with your question, but I thought you’d like to know anyway…

… unless some Anglo-Saxon accents made Prick-Head sound like Richard?

Good wishes.

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