How the hell is ”Dick” short for ”Richard” in America?

20 comments

1. Not an American thing. Started in England

2. I’m pretty sure this came from England, and it’s because it rhymes with Rick.

3. ” **Dick** is a nickname most often for Richard, which likely originated in the Middle Ages as rhyming slang for “Rick”, as did William →‎ Will →‎ Bill and Robert →‎ Rob →‎ Bob. ” – Wikipedia This is not an American thing but just an English language thing.

4. Rich is also short for Richard. As is Rick. Which rhymes with Dick.

5. It’s short for Richard in the entire anglophone world

6. It’s not an Americanism, it’s British rhyming slang.

   Richard > Rick > Dick.

   Similarly,

   Robert > Rob > Bob.

   William > Will > Bill.

   Edward > Ed > Ted. Though, Ted is often a shortening of Theodore.

   We share a common language with Britain, so some things carry over.

7. r/AskABrit

8. Wait until you hear where it started

9. As with so many other things, it started in Britain.

   Why would you assume nicknames and diminutives are exclusive to the US or to English? Many languages in many countries have those.

   Have you never wondered how Spanish-speakers get “Chuy” from “Jésus”, or is that outside your experience?

   Also, yes. “Rich” *is* short for “Richard”, as a diminutive.

10. Rich, Ritchie, Rick, and Ricky are all other common nicknames for Richard.

    Dick is a nickname for Richard dating back to the Middle Ages in England.

11. [deleted]

12. Spotted Rich? I don’t think so.

13. Ask the Brits we just inherited it from them.

14. That Dick came before people started calling a dick a dick

15. Ask the Brits. They started it. Also, Rich is a FAR more common nickname, and I know no one who goes by Dick that was born after like the 1940s.

16. Richard=>Rich=>Rick=>Dick.

17. > Wouldn’t you think Rich would be short for it and not Dick?

    …por que no los dos?

18. For the same reason jack is short for John.

19. Britain started it.

20. Many nicknames started from just swapping a letter or two and/or shortening the name.

    Richard -> Dickard -> Dick

    William -> Billiam -> Bill/Will

    Margaret -> Margie -> Maggie -> Meggie -> Peggie/Peggy

    Margaret -> Margie -> Maggie -> Meggie -> Meg

    Robert -> Bobert -> Bob

    Robert -> Robby -> Rob