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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for April 6, 1999
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nickname [n. NIK-naym]
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A nickname is an extra, informal name given to a person. Often it
describes some notable aspect of the person, like "Spike" or "Red" or
"Slugger."
One incorrect explanation of the word's origin is that it came from
the verb "to nick" as in "to catch," because the nickname usually
catches some certain essence of the person. Another refers to the
French expression "faire la nique" (to make fun of).
Actually, the original usage was not "a nickname," but "an eke name"
(an extra name). In a process that has happened several times in
English, the "n" migrated, forming "a neke name." The same thing
happened to "an ewt" (a small amphibian). The reverse process
happened to "a napron" (a garment worn while cooking) and "a nadder"
(a snake).
The Middle English eke (extra) is from the Old English eaca
(addition), from the same ancient root as German auch (also).
A nickname is also a hypocorism:
http://www.cool-word.com/archive/1999/01/25.html
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