by-name

Noun

byname (plural bynames)

1. Synonym of epithet, a descriptive and distinguishing additional name.
   • Lions-heart, is... the by-name of K. Richard.1631, John Weever, Ancient Funerall Monuments..., page 644

   Synonyms:

   to-name, epithet

2. (Germanic) A formal epithet for a god or goddess, used in rituals in Heathenry.

   Synonyms:

   to-name

3. (Scotland, UK, dialectal) Synonym of pseudonym, a second name used to disguise authorship etc.

   Synonyms:

   to-name, pseudonym

4. (archaic) Synonym of nickname, an informal personal name.

   Synonyms:

   to-name, nickname

5. (archaic) Synonym of surname, a hereditary distinguishing additional name.
   • Some of these by-names... remained many years after to them, and theirs; amongst which Plantagenist was entailed on the Royal bloud of England.1655, Thomas Fuller, The Church-History of Britain..., page 30

   Synonyms:

   to-name, surname

6. (archaic, historical) Synonym of cognomen, a personal or hereditary additional name in ancient Roman contexts.
   • Eutropius... gives him the additional name of Crinitus, perhaps a by-name of his family.1865, Charles Merivale, History of the Romans under the Empire, volume VIII, page 16

   Synonyms:

   to-name, cognomen

See all 7 meanings of byname