Friday, April 22, 2016

Sobriquet

I bet you don't know what it means.

I mean I didn't know what it meant.

But I used a thesaurus for other forms of the word "nickname" and it popped up.

I looked up the definition. And you know, it was the word I needed.

So Sobriquet is from French. You originally said the word and tapped someone endearingly on the chin. Try doing that to your spouse, friend or whoever you want to irritate. I don't think they will be charmed.

Today in English it means - A complimentary nickname given by someone else. So all you folks branding yourself on social media. Start touting your sobriquet. I'm sure your mom would endorse it as something she would have said first. If you had not suggested it first that is.

Anyway, where did I get this idea. Two nicknames that are compliments.

One is Mensch. It means you're smart. Someone terrific that we should all emulate. It is a Yiddish term.

The other is Hotep. It originally was Imhotep and referred to someone who knew all the good things and triumphs of people of African descent. Then people got obnoxious about it. So it depends on the tone of the person calling you a Hotep. It could mean you are an obnoxious know it all or you are all that and a bag of chips. You be the judge.


Any way in the words of the immortal bard, Elvis.

I've been wanting to say that for some time.

Did you know Elvis probably wrote none of his songs. He just had that much clout. He was the King. How is that for a sobriquet.

Below is a civil war ballad named Aura Lee by Jim Reeves. Recognize Love Me Tender's melody.




There have been many songs in tribute to Elvis. I chose Merle Haggard. I like Merle Haggard. He is the best bard I know. Sorry Shakespeare.

7 comments:

  1. This is an excellent S post! And, I agreed with everything you said. Seriously. Thank you.

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  2. Never knew what it meant until now. The cat likes to throw out nicknames for many.

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  3. I actually knew that word. We have nicknames for every one in the family and they're kind for the most part.

    Susan Says

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  4. Never heard of that word before; it sounds kind of pretty though!

    betty

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  5. Another new word! My family would think I'm saying something scandalous - ha:-)

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