—n. a familiar or humorous name given to a person or thing instead of or as well as the real name.
—v.tr.
1 give a nickname to.
2 call (a person or thing) by a nickname.
Etymology: ME f. eke-name, with n from an (cf. NEWT): eke = addition, f. OE eaca (as EKE)
Useful english dictionary. 2012.