# What is it called when you refer to someone by an attribute? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 15, 2010, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-called-when-you-refer-to-someone-by-an-attribute/557229 "2010-10-15T11:48:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Alienhand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8edcca/32.png) [@Alienhand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alienhand)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-called-when-you-refer-to-someone-by-an-attribute/557229/1 "2010-10-15T11:48:10Z")
Examples: calling an executive a “suit”, a tall red headed guy “big red”, or someone from the Bayou “swampy” ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-called-when-you-refer-to-someone-by-an-attribute/557229/2 "2010-10-15T11:57:10Z")
An [epithet](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/epithet). 1. any word or phrase applied to a person or thing to describe an actual or attributed quality: “Richard the Lion-Hearted” is an epithet of Richard I. ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-called-when-you-refer-to-someone-by-an-attribute/557229/3 "2010-10-15T12:04:46Z")
I think this is [metonymy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metonymy), which is closely related to [synecdoche](http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-syn1.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-called-when-you-refer-to-someone-by-an-attribute/557229/4 "2010-10-15T12:11:43Z")
I’d say you’re both right. It’s an epithet with “Big Red” or “Swampy”, where it works as a proper name, and better referred to as metonymy in the “suit” example, as it refers to all executives. Disregarding that epithets are all forms of metonymy when you think about it, really, I guess, but, heck, you get the point. ---
**Author:** ![Alienhand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8edcca/32.png) [@Alienhand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alienhand)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2010, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-called-when-you-refer-to-someone-by-an-attribute/557229/5 "2010-10-15T12:19:32Z")
> [@MikeS](#): > > I think this is [metonymy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metonymy) […] My examples weren’t the best but this is what I was looking for. Thanks everyone. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-called-when-you-refer-to-someone-by-an-attribute/557229/6 "2010-10-17T09:28:31Z")
I just have to add that that word is really cool. Just say it out loud. I wonder if I could write a silly poem that made it rhyme with autonomy. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-called-when-you-refer-to-someone-by-an-attribute/557229/7 "2010-10-17T09:42:29Z")
I’d call it a Sawyerism, _Swampy_. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-called-when-you-refer-to-someone-by-an-attribute/557229/8 "2010-10-17T22:02:38Z")
If memory serves, the term “byname” refers to such attributes that become part of somebody’s permanent name. Common in medieval England, where “Will of the Wood” or “James the Tall” could be somebody’s name. Can’t google at the moment, so I can’t verify the usage. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-called-when-you-refer-to-someone-by-an-attribute/557229/9 "2010-10-18T01:16:36Z")
But do they call me Ahmed the Bridge Builder? _Noooo!_ Do they call me Ahmed the Peace Maker? _Nooooo!_ (sigh) ---
**Author:** ![Alienhand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8edcca/32.png) [@Alienhand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alienhand)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-called-when-you-refer-to-someone-by-an-attribute/557229/10 "2010-10-18T01:50:02Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > But do they call me Ahmed the Bridge Builder? _Noooo!_ Do they call me Ahmed the Peace Maker? _Nooooo!_ > > (sigh) A high school friend’s father was just arrested for fucking a cow. Perhaps I should send him a card. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-it-called-when-you-refer-to-someone-by-an-attribute/557229/11 "2010-10-18T08:11:20Z")
> [@Alienhand](#): > > A high school friend’s father was just arrested for fucking a cow. Perhaps I should send him a card. I’m not sure if Hallmark makes a card for that particular event. 😃