See also: name-sake

English edit

 
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Etymology edit

Mid-17th century. Equivalent to name +‎ sake. From the phrase "for (one's) name's sake", first found in Bible translations as a rendering of a Hebrew idiom meaning "to protect one's reputation" or possibly "vouched for by one's reputation." A familiar example is in Psalm 23:3, "he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake" (King James Bible, 1604).

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

namesake (plural namesakes)

  1. (originally) One who is named after another or for whom another is named.
    Synonym: eponym
    • 2018, James Lambert, “Setting the Record Straight: An In-depth Examination of Hobson-Jobson”, in International Journal of Lexicography, volume 31, number 4, →DOI, page 493:
      It is the only citation from 1902, and was clearly added to the manuscript at a late stage, being only one of two examples of the dictionary’s namesake actually discovered by Crooke.
  2. (by extension) A ship or a building that is named after someone or something.
  3. A person with the same name as another.

Translations edit

Verb edit

namesake (third-person singular simple present namesakes, present participle namesaking, simple past and past participle namesaked)

  1. (transitive) To name (somebody) after somebody else.