why is dick short for richard

The reason "Dick" is short for "Richard" comes from a medieval English tradition of creating rhyming nicknames. Originally, Richard was shortened to "Rich" or "Rick" for convenience. Around the early 13th century, rhyming nicknames became popular, so "Rick" led to the rhyming versions "Dick" and "Hick." While "Hick" faded away, "Dick" stuck and became a widely accepted nickname for Richard. This nickname gained popularity and was so common that the phrase "every Tom, Dick, and Harry" emerged to mean any ordinary person. Over time, "Dick" also gained other meanings, but its origin lies in this rhyming nickname tradition from Middle English times. The practice was similar to how William became Will and Bill, or Robert became Rob and Bob.