| hypocorism |
| Definition: The use of pet names, diminutives, baby talk, and other affectionate terminology. |
| Example:
(1) Saying potty instead of toilet. (2) Calling your wife Honey Bun. |
| Etymology: The word derives via Late Latin from the Greek hupokorizesthai, to call by endearing names (from the Greek hypo, secretly or beneath + korizesthai, to caress). Evidently, this is not a new phenomenon. |
| Oxford English Dictionary: The word's first OED citation is from 1850: "‘Polly’ is one of those ‘hypocorisms’ or pet-names with which our language abounds." ( N. & Q. 1st Ser. I. 242/1) |