| hypocoristic |
| Definition: A nick name |
| Example: The names Vicky (from Victoria) and Tony (from Anthony). |
| 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). |
| Oxford English Dictionary: The word's first citation is from 1796: "Harry … is the free or hypocoristic name for Henry." (Pegge Anonym. (1809) 98 ) |