Verde Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Anybody know why "Dick" is the nickname for "Richard"? Also, how did "dick" become slang for penis? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thai Jet Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Anybody know why "Dick" is the nickname for "Richard"? Also, how did "dick" become slang for penis? Just a guess here but maybe everyone whose name is Richard actually IS a dick ? Like I said just a guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerryK Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Not conclusive, but this is the result of some internet searching: Obviously the name came first. The name Richard is very old, although its origin is disputed. Old English had Richeard, from Ric (ruler) and heard (hard); French had Richart, and Old German had Ricohard. The name Richer was also fairly common until the 13th Century or thereabouts. In those days, manuscripts, letters, grocery lists, and everything else was written by hand; it was therefore common and easier to use agreed-upon abbreviations. "Rich." was used for "Richer" and "Ric." for "Richard" or "Ricard." Richard and Ricard were equally popular in the Middle Ages, and the abbreviations led naturally to diminutives--such as Rich, Richie, Rick, and Ricket. Rhyming nicknames were also fairly common in the 12th and 13th centuries, and so we also have Hitch from Rich, Hick and Dick from Rick, and Hicket from Ricket. Some of these later became surnames or parts of surnames. We note that while Dick endures as a nickname, "Hick" has thankfully become obsolete, except when tied to "Dick" in rhymes such as "Hickory, Dickory, Dock." In the 13th and 14th centuries, "Hick" evolved, however improbably, into "Hudde," from which derives surnames such as "Hudson." W. Bardsley's masterful work, Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (1901) cites a Latin manuscript that mentions "Ricardus dictus Hudde de Walkden." Back at the ranch, Dick and Hick were among the earliest of the rhyming nicknames, first appearing in writing around 1220. Other rhyming nicknames include Polly from Molly, Bob from Rob (from Robert), Bill from Will (from William); and Hodge from Roger. The name Dick (like the name Jack) was used colloquially to mean a man or everyman. The expression "every Tom, Dick, or Harry" attests to the this as a long-established usage; Shakespeare uses "every Tom, Dick, or Francis" in Henry IV Part I. From the usage of Dick to mean average person, other usages appeared. Many other usages. The Oxford English Dictionary cites a dick as meaning a type of hard cheese in 1847, which lead to the usage of "spotted dick" (to be dealt with in an upcoming Staff Report.) The term "dick" was also used to mean a riding whip, an apron, the mound around a ditch, and an abbreviation for "dictionary" around 1860. Dick also meant a declaration, in which sense the OED cites someone writing in 1878 "I'd take my dying dick" to mean "I'd swear a dying declaration." The term "dick" came to mean policeman around 1908, and then detective. And we finally get to where you started. The use of "dick" as coarse slang for penis first arises around 1890. Tracking the history of uncouth words is not easy, since such expressions were not generally written down. How "dick" came to be associated with penis is not known, although the riding whip may have pointed the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alk Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 More importantly, why would you want to be called Dick? My grandpa is a Richard but always went by Dick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verde Posted April 17, 2009 Author Share Posted April 17, 2009 More importantly, why would you want to be called Dick? My grandpa is a Richard but always went by Dick. Exactly.. that's why I thought maybe the slang "dick" was a relatively new term. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gun Of Bavaria Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 More importantly, why would you want to be called Dick? My grandpa is a Richard but always went by Dick. Whatever Dick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerryK Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 My wife wanted our youngest to be named "Harrison Peter". She REALLY liked the ring of it. I had to explain to her how the name would likely become "Harry". His name is now Harrison Jansen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatriotReign37 Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 My wife wanted our youngest to be named "Harrison Peter". She REALLY liked the ring of it. I had to explain to her how the name would likely become "Harry". His name is now Harrison Jansen. Harry Johnson? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alk Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Whatever Dick. When used that way I just look at it as a term of endearment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatriotReign37 Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Just a guess here but maybe everyone whose name is Richard actually IS a dick ? Like I said just a guess. Well, you certainly are Richard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arsis Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 UwxhSvmDpvg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verde Posted April 17, 2009 Author Share Posted April 17, 2009 My wife wanted our youngest to be named "Harrison Peter". She REALLY liked the ring of it. I had to explain to her how the name would likely become "Harry". His name is now Harrison Jansen. I think Jansen means a$$ in Limburgish! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoFlaJets Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Harry Johnson? I actually KNEW a Harry Johnson-he was a drummer around these parts for years...RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatriotReign37 Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 I actually KNEW a Harry Johnson-he was a drummer around these parts for years...RIP RIP Play any Robert Johnson? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMaynard Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Millhouse Nixon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boozer76 Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 I have to admit that I've always wished I could tell someone confidently with a smile "call me Dick." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afosomf Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 My dad goes by Dick I go by Arsehole lol Can't understand why anyone would go by that Might as well call them Pecker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 More importantly, why would you want to be called Dick? My grandpa is a Richard but always went by Dick. Well he knew what his grandson was going to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerryK Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 I actually KNEW a Harry Johnson-he was a drummer around these parts for years...RIP Did Harry Johnson play with the Brothers Johnson? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alk Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 How is it that our own resident "Dick" hasn't chimed in yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vudu Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 How did "Bill" become a nickname for William? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 How is it that our own resident "Dick" hasn't chimed in yet? I thought I was the resident "Douchebag"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 dick actually means detective. "house dick", etc. They only had like 100 slang words for penis and they needed another, so they decided to use dick as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Now that I think of it, maybe that's why the guy's name was Dick Tracey. Dick is a good name for a detective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsFanTX Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 How is it that our own resident "Dick" hasn't chimed in yet? He's stuck in the backseat of a limo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Anybody know why "Dick" is the nickname for "Richard"? Also, how did "dick" become slang for penis? If you'd like, I could come over and we could have a full discussion on the usage of "Dick." I am an educator at heart, and a travelling lecturer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uart Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 I used to work for a guy named Dick Wack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thai Jet Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Whatever Dick. +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer Division Marduk Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 How is it that our own resident "Dick" hasn't chimed in yet? One of his student's parents probably killed him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borgoguy Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 t2DGGmotpY4&feature=related Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norway'sWaddlingMarmaloof Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 I think Jansen means a$$ in Limburgish! Rush has his own language? How does he say "oxycontin"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoFlaJets Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 where it originated VG, who knows but thankfully the legend still rises Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoFlaJets Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Rush has his own language? How does he say "oxycontin"? my bassist Tim was Rush's chef during that whole ordeal and he swears after seeing him at the G-pac that he's back on it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verde Posted April 18, 2009 Author Share Posted April 18, 2009 If you'd like, I could come over and we could have a full discussion on the usage of "Dick." I am an educator at heart, and a travelling lecturer. How benevolent of you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gun Of Bavaria Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 Now that I think of it, maybe that's why the guy's name was Dick Tracey. Dick is a good name for a detective. Ironically my middle name is Richard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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