sobriquet English · revision 1941

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈsoʊ.bɹɪ.keɪ/, /ˈsoʊ.bɹɪ.kɛt/; /ˈsəʊ.bɹɪ.keɪ/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|sobriquet|t=nickname]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(AHD) from Middle French ''soubriquet'',^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(AHD) said to mean literally “a chuck under the chin”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) a word of unknown origin.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The first element is perhaps from [[la|sub|t=under]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An epithet or nickname (1646).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In French ''soubriquet'' also meant a jest or quip,^(Etymonline) which may explain how a playful chuck under the chin became a nickname.^(Etymonline) In English it has always meant a nickname,^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) often an affectionate or humorous one,^(AHD) or an assumed name.^(AHD)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 15th century – French ''soubriquet''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1646 – a nickname.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1842 – verb, to nickname.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A nickname, especially an affectionate or humorous one.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An assumed name.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sobriquetical]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[soubriquet]]

+ * [[nickname]]

+ * [[moniker]]

+ * [[epithet]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}