[kikkoman]

I've know guys named Richard but liked to called Dick. Why not Rich or Rick? How does the name Dick come from Richard?

[adamfishercox]

Richard --> Rick --> Dick (more manly??)

[Railroader]

I'm also trying to figure out how "Hank" is derived from "Henry".

[turtle777]

http://forums.macnn.com/89/macnn-lou...highlight=dick

I knew I had seen this thread before

-t

[iMOTOR]

This thread reminds me of this song.

Terrible song BTW.

[Paco500]

And how does cat become pussy? What's up with that?

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by Paco500 

And how does cat become pussy? What's up with that?

"Pussy" referred to cats LONG before it came to refer to what you're thinking of.

Like how "gay" also meant "happy" and "queer" meant "strange" long before they came to refer to homosexuals.

[Oisín]

Originally Posted by kikkoman 

I've know guys named Richard but liked to called Dick. Why not Rich or Rick? How does the name Dick come from Richard?

...

Originally Posted by behindthename.com

DICK (1)
Gender: Masculine
Usage: English
Pronounced: DIK [key]
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.

[Person Man]

Originally Posted by Oisín 

Originally Posted by behindthename.com
DICK (1)
Gender: Masculine
Usage: English
Pronounced: DIK [key]
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.

Makes sense to me. The letter "R" is rolled (or trilled) in Greek and when I was a little boy before I could roll my Rs I used the letter "D" when speaking Greek.

[Paco500]

Originally Posted by Person Man 

"Pussy" referred to cats LONG before it came to refer to what you're thinking of.

Like how "gay" also meant "happy" and "queer" meant "strange" long before they came to refer to homosexuals.

Thanks. You have completely opened my eyes.

Now is there anything I can do to help you not take things quite so literally?

[mrtew]

I had the same question and for a while when I met people I'd say, "My name is John, but you can call me Dick" and they did!

[design219]

My first name is William, but I was called "Billy" as a child, and "Bill" in college and on.

I hate "Billy."

This seems like some weird British slang to me. There probably is a book with info on these name variations somewhere.

[Art Vandelay]

Now how is Jack a nickname for John?

[JonoMarshall]

And Hal a nickname for Henry?

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay 

Now how is Jack a nickname for John?

Originally Posted by JonoMarshall 

And Hal a nickname for Henry?

The short form of John-Henry is Heck !

-t

[Eriamjh]

Originally Posted by design219 

My first name is William, but I was called "Billy" as a child, and "Bill" in college and on.

I hate "Billy."

This seems like some weird British slang to me. There probably is a book with info on these name variations somewhere.

Billiam?
Willy?
Wilbert?
Bilbert?
Wilfred?

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Eriamjh 

Billiam?
Willy?
Wilbert?
Bilbert?
Wilfred?

Or the German variant, Wilhelm.

-t

[f1000]

Who are you calling Dick?

[goMac]

Richard -> Rich -> Dick

[Oisín]

Argh, not again! Stupid “Server busy” messages!

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay 

Now how is Jack a nickname for John?

יוֹחָנָן (Ywoh’anan—I think... let me know if my Hebrew transcription is all wonky and odd, which is quite likely) -> [Ιωάννης (Iōánnēs)->] Germanic Jōhannes, Jō(h)n(z), Jān(z) -> English Jan, Jo(h)n + mediaeval pet suffix -kin (same as German -chen) -> Jankin, Jonkin -> Jackin -> Jack.

And Hal a nickname for Henry?

Heimirík (‘ruler of the world’) -> Henrik -> Henry -> Herry/Harry -> Hal (same as with Dick above: unfamiliarity of the trilled r as pronounced by the Normans and others)

[paul w]

Originally Posted by Oisín 

Heimirík (‘ruler of the world’)

Thanks. You've given me the name of my firstborn son.

[Mithras]

Which is worse -- this guy, Dr Richard Head, or this guy, Dr Richard Busch, Head & Neck Surgeon?

Hmm, turns out there are several DrRichard Heads. The last one is a neurologist, teehee. No urologists, though.

[Dakarʒ]

I still enjoy Dick Assman