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ArchivesCHUCK as an imitative "term of endearment"?
This site, like some name books I know, explains CHUCK as a pet form of CHARLES. Now Hanks & Hodges come up with something different:
It derives from the English term of endearment, itself probably from Middle English chukken to cluck (of imitative origin). It is now often used as a pet form of Charles.
(Hanks & Hodges, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, 1992)
What shall we think of this?
It derives from the English term of endearment, itself probably from Middle English chukken to cluck (of imitative origin). It is now often used as a pet form of Charles.
(Hanks & Hodges, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, 1992)
What shall we think of this?
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Replies
Not sure what it imitates ... perhaps a hen ... but Macbeth calls his wife "dearest chuck" in a unique display of affection for one of the nastiest women in the history of History itself. So presumably that nice Mr Shakespeare felt he could trust his audience to recognise it.
Once I knew an American Charles III; he was known as Chip, his father was Chuck and his grandfather had been Charlie. Chip was then unmarried; presumably if he'd had a son the child could have been Charles or Charlie again without any confusion.
Once I knew an American Charles III; he was known as Chip, his father was Chuck and his grandfather had been Charlie. Chip was then unmarried; presumably if he'd had a son the child could have been Charles or Charlie again without any confusion.
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The word "chuck" was a medieval term of endearment. Chuck as a short form of Charles seems to have first developed in the United States. I'm not sure that there are really any instances of Chuck being used as an official given name (as opposed to nickname) before it became a pet form of Charles in the USA. So I think that the use of Chuck as a given name is intimately linked to its use as a pet form of Charles, and does not come directly from the term of endearment.
This message was edited 1/18/2007, 12:27 PM
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Thank you, Cleve!
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