moniker
UK /ˈmɒn.ɪ.kə/ · US /ˈmɑn.ɪ.kɚ/ noun
Forms monikers monicker monniker
- noun A personal name or nickname; an informal label, often drawing attention to a particular attribute. “The rookie was upset at being called Lemon Drop until she realized that everyone on the team had a silly moniker.”
- noun A person's signature.
- noun (computing) An object (structured item of data) used to associate the name of an object with its location.
Synonyms
byname nickname pseudonym sobriquet street name to-name name nomenclature proper name tag cognomen soubriquet
Etymology
Unknown; first attested in 1849. Suggested derivations are:
* Backslang for ekename (compare nickname);
* From Shelta munik, munika;
* Partridge (A Dictionary of Historical Slang) suggests a corruption of monogram, which is suggestive of the sense signature.
* From monarch in the sense 'king or No. 1, and thus with frank egotism, "I, myself".' (The Gentleman's Magazine, Vol. 281, pg. 349.)
Online Etymological Dictionary's entry cites the Saturday Review (London newspaper) of 1857, which noted, "the word has a certain Coptic or Egyptian twang".
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “moniker”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details