hypocorism

Meaning

Noun

• A term of endearment; a hypocoristic, a pet name.
• The formation of terms of endearment or pet names.
• Baby talk, such as bow-wow for dog and choo-choo for train.

Origin

• Borrowed from Late Latin hypocorisma, a loan from Ancient Greek ὑποκόρισμα, ὑποκορισμός, from ὑποκορίζεσθαι, ὑποκορίζομαι, from ῠ̔πο- + κορίζομαι (from κόρος, κόρη).