The Joy of using Archaic Words
Today’s word: Sobriquet
Hi-De Ho Everyone. The 1st week of June, eh. My word, nice to be outside in the warmer weather these days. Plus, walked by a couple of lawns that were freshly cut, inhaling the sweet aroma of just cut grass (OH YEAH!!!). It has been a bit of cool spring/summer so far, but hey, Glass Half Full, daylight hours keep on getting longer. Still Great having light when going outside pre 6 am. And the birds are still out and abou pre 6 am, singing their hearts out. Nice to hear the birds singing rather than just hearing only the sound of cars driving by while waiting for transportation to commute to work.
The word for this post, Sobriquet. From my copy of the New World Dictionary (America English, 3rd edition), it is a noun meaning (1) a nickname (2) an assumed name. From Google, the Oxford’s Languages, a person’s nickname. Going to focus on the nickname aspect of this word.
Funny thing about Sobriquet, I learned it from reading one of my many reference materials, a Comic Book, namely Nightwing Issue 5. Nightwing aka Dick Grayson was engaged in combat with an Antagonist named Lady Vic. Just assumed Vic is short for Victoria. Nope, it is short for Lady Victim (SOOOOO did not see that coming). Anyway, she voiced the word Sobriquet to our Crime fighting hero. Must admit, it was a tad exciting, to come across, yet again, another word I have not seen/read before. PLUS, I am a Fan of Nicknames, I really am. So, double dose of excitement, finding a new word I did not know existed AND finding out the definition means nicknames. Definitely got the creative spark a flaring, needless to say 😊.
I will admit, I dig nicknames, not ashamed to say that. I have given a few that I really enjoyed and at times, prefer to be called by than my given name. Plus, it is a tad refreshing, exhilarating in fact, to be referred to or called by a different name that gives off them positive waves. And I will admit, like Mr. Willem Dafoe, I actively seek out a nickname for myself when I was younger. I still have people giving me nicknames that have those positive waves. The ‘old’ jokes, banter though, that come my way from my buddies, Hah, they will never cease. HOWEVER, I take them in stride because I know the ‘old’ jokes are not mean spirited 😊. And I will also admit that I have given a few nicknames that I do not like, BUT those unlikable nicknames, I have not been called them in decades (they have become a thing in the past). I also tend to give people nicknames that are favourable and give out a positive wave. I also tend to ask a person’s permission before calling them by a nickname like I did with my buddy Sly. My buddy reminds so much of Monsieur Sylvester Stallone in the sense that my buddy is a force of nature and loves challenges. When my buddy is told “No, that cannot be accomplished”, my buddy views that as a Challenge and will figure out a way to make that Impossible Task, Possible, like Mr. Stallone would do. So, I call my buddy Sly and my buddy likes it. Call another buddy of mine, Nomad. My other buddy likes to travel. Me buddy travels at least every 5th week or so, just loves it, LOVES IT!! Thus, call this buddy Nomad because me buddy likes to wander, to travel, ‘get out of the big city’, to go elsewhere ‘to see something different’, enjoy different surroundings for a change. So, Nomad, me buddy is a Wanderer. Me Buddy does not the “Mick” Dundee thing and do a Walkabout, mainly because me buddy uses vehicles, airplanes to wander. Crocodile Dundee likes to do his Walkabouts via foot power, me buddy does not 😊 😊.
As I was coming home today, I thought of nicknames that I did remember re: actors/characters/movies in the entertainment industry:
John ‘The Duke’ Wayne
‘Dirty’ Harry
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson
Sydney Pollack aka “The Lion Tamer”
Terry Hulk Hogan Bollea
Walter ‘Radar’ O’Reilly
Benjamin Franklin ‘Hawkeye’ Pierce
Margaret ‘Hot Lips” Houlihan
Jimmy ‘Superfly’ Snuka
Montgomery Scott aka ‘Scotty’
Donald ‘Ducky’ Mallard
‘Miley’ Destiny Ray Cyrus
Will Riker aka ‘Number One’
David Howell Evans of U2 aka The Edge
The Mechanical Shark from Jaws aka ‘Bruce’
I also remember Senor Mike Myers referring to Phil Hartman as ‘The Glue’ one time. Mr. Hartman was called The Glue by his castmates at Saturday Night Live because he found a way to make a sketch work, a very reliable cast member. I also learned that Senor Andy Griffin called his co-star, Monsieur Don Knotts as Jesse, not Don. Why? Don’t know and frankly don’t care. Kevin Smith’s Mom has called him Tiger and still does. I find this very touching. It reminds of the times that my Mother, who also referred to me by a special nickname growing up. Ah, Great Memories 😊 😊.
I also like to pose this Question: Is it a nickname when you just shorten a person’s given name? For example, calling Mac instead of Mackenzie; Vicky instead of Victoria; Chris instead of either Christopher or Christian; Mal instead of Mallory; Topher instead of Christopher; Val instead of Valerie; Vic instead of Victor; Drew instead of Andrew; Pam instead of Pamela; Will instead of William; Rock instead of Rocky; Sam instead of Samantha; Rich instead of Richard; Mal instead of Malcolm; Kris instead of Kristin; Supes instead of Superman; Bats instead of Batman. I am going to lean on the side of No, ain’t a nickname. Just because a person decides not to voice all the letters in a person’s name, not a nickname. I also find that figuring out a nickname for a person/friend/colleague/loved one, have to be creative. Sometimes, the nickname applied to a person is not obvious and WAY outside the box. For instance, one time in an Archie comic book, Moose decides to call his girlfriend Midge, Peanut Butter. Why? Moose loves Midge and loves Peanut Butter. He wanted to call Midge by something that he loves, to show his affection for her. Peanut Butter was the first thing that came to his head. Got to admit, that is WAY outside the box, but definitely original, don’t see it coming and demonstrates a love for Moose’s better half. And let us be honest, at times, referring to someone by their favourable nickname, a bonding experience. It does help to connect people when they decide to call themselves only by their favourable nicknames. I know that I enjoy when someone calls me by a favourable nickname, it definitely brightens my day, create a Sunshine moment 😊.
To recap, sobriquet is a noun meaning a nickname or an assumed name. The Joy of this word, again multiple. (I) Found another word that I did not know existed. (II) Wrote about nicknames and how much I like nicknames, the positive effects being called by a favourable nicknames. (III) Remembering the Great times when my Mom called me by her special nickname pour moi. AWESOME!!!!
Going to quote some great lyrics
‘It’s going to be a Bright (Bright)
Bright (Bright)
Sun-Shiny Day
It’s going to be a Bright (Bright).
Bright (Bright)
Sun-Shiny Day’ 😊 😊
I do hope everyone will be experiencing more than a few of this kind of day in the next 2 weeks.
Until next Post Folks. Grazie.
My nickname is Rocky. Someone once started calling me Rockford, then in a homage to the TV show Rockford Files, started called me Files. I had a nickname for a nickname of a nickname.