Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “dickens” come from?

Dickens derives from the English personal name Dick, a diminutive of Richard, though its ultimate origin and meaning remain uncertain.

Ancestry of “dickens”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishDicken—
2EnglishDick—
3EnglishdeclarationA written or oral indication of a fact, opinion,...
4Middle Englishdeclaration—
5Old Frenchdeclaration—
6LatindeclaratioThe act of making clear; a disclosure,...
7Latin-tiō—
8Latindissertātiō—
9Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
10Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
11Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
12Latincalceusshoe
13Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
14Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “dickens”

  • Dickensian
  • Dickensianly
  • Диккенс
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →