Dickie bird

[TheOtherHalf]

Why to we refer to birds as dickie birds when talking to children ?

[Quizmonster]

The earliest recorded use of dicky-bird in this childlike way was from Horace Walpole in 1791, so it has been with us for a long time. It's rather like the children's word 'ickle' for 'little' and similar examples. Adults simply make these up in an attempt to create baby language; other than that, there is no specific reason for such inventions.

[Playbill]

And what about 'puss' when referring to cats?

[TheOtherHalf]

Thanks to both of you

[Quizmonster]

Puss is older than dicky-bird, having been around since the early 16th century. It almost certainly started life simply as the 'pss-pss' sound we naturally make when we actually try to call a cat to us.

[Playbill]

Thank you Quizmonster, I have been meaning to look for the answer for months.