A
sobriquet (pronounced
so-brik-ay or
so-brik-et and occasionally written incorrectly as
subricae) is a
nickname or a fancy name, sometimes assumed, but often given by another. It is usually a familiar name, distinct from a
pseudonym assumed as a disguise, but a nickname which is familiar enough such that it can be used in place of a real name without the need of explanation. This
salient characteristic is of sufficient familiarity that the sobriquet can become more familiar than the original name. For example,
Genghis Khan, who is rarely recognized now by his original name, Temüjin, or Mohandas Gandhi who is better known as
Mahatma Gandhi. Well known places often have sobriquets, such as
New York City, often referred to as The Big Apple. The term can therefore apply to the nickname for a specific person, group of people or even a place.
Two early variants of the term are found, sotbriquet and soubriquet; the latter form is still often used. The modern French spelling is sobriquet. The first form suggests a derivation from sot, foolish, and briquet, a French adaptation of Ital. brichetto, diminutive of bricco, ass, knave, possibly connected with briccone, rogue, which is supposed to be a derivative of Ger. brechen, to break; but Skeat considers this spelling to be an example of popular etymology, and the real origin is to be sought in the form soubriquet.
Sobriquets are often found in music, sports and politics. Candidates and political figures are often branded with sobriquets, either contemporarily or historically. For example, American President Abraham Lincoln came to be known as Honest Abe. Sobriquets are not always used to highlight virtuous qualities. A banking tycoon and politician from Knoxville, Tennessee named Jake Butcher was known as "Jake the Snake" after being indicted and subsequently convicted for bank fraud.
>Fowler's Modern English Usage (1926) warned, "Now the sobriquet habit is not a thing to be acquired, but a thing to be avoided; & the selection that follows is compiled for the purpose not of assisting but of discouraging it." Fowler included the sobriquet among what he termed the "battered ornaments" of the language.
