hypocoristic
adjective
[ ˌhʌɪpə(ʊ)kəˈrɪstɪk ]
• denoting or of the nature of a pet name or diminutive form of a name.
hypocoristic
noun
• a hypocoristic name or form.
Origin:
mid 19th century: from Greek hupokorisma, from hupokorizesthai ‘play the child’, from hupo ‘under’ + korē ‘child’.
