English

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Etymology

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After Richard Whittington (c. 1354–1423), English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London and financed various public projects. He is remembered in a pantomime called Dick Whittington and His Cat, in which he sets out for London to make his fortune.

Noun

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Dick Whittington (plural Dick Whittingtons)

  1. (UK) Somebody who moves to London in the hope of better prospects.
    • 1911, The Sunday at Home, page 194:
      "Fine! Ye couldn't beat it. And you'd go off to London, or some such place—"
      "I should like it to be London."
      "Oh, of course; there's plenty of Dick Whittingtons left yet. But there's more petrol than pearls about the London pavement now. []
    • 2009, What's Up, Britain?, page 42:
      Britain's twenty-somethings have become iPod-carrying Dick Whittingtons, drawn to London by the prospect of large salaries and hopes of a vibrant social life.