Some of the most familiar nicknames in the English language seem to have little in common with the names they’re supposedly short for. How did Chuck become short for Charles, for instance? And why do some Margarets go by Peggy? Many of these curious nicknames carry centuries of linguistic history. Some emerged from playful medieval rhymes, others from sound shifts in everyday speech, and still others from migration, mishearing, or sheer convenience. The word “nickname” itself also has a somewhat surprising origin, making it a perfect example of how these terms evolve. It comes from ...Read More