Why is it called "nickname"?

zbeckabee

Nickname -- 1440, misdivision of ekename (1303), an eke name, lit. "an additional name," from O.E. eaca "an increase," related to eacian "to increase" Eke -- c.1200, north England and E. Midlands var. of echen from O.E. ecan, eacan, eacian "addition, reinforcement," probably from eaca "an increase," from P.Gmc. *aukan (cf. O.N. auka, O.Fris. aka, Goth. aukan), from PIE *aug- "to increase" (see augment). Now mainly in phrase to eke out (1596). It means "to make something go further or last longer;" you can eke out your income by taking a second job, but you can't eke out your miserable existence. Obsolete eke "also" (O.E. eac, Ger. auch) is probably related. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=NICKNAME&searchmode=none http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=eke Nov 26 07, 10:54 AM

Masterbrain78

Nick means to steal, so basicly it means a stolen name that is nicked! Nov 26 07, 7:13 PM