Definition of the word dick

The root of the word "dick" as a slang term for the male genitalia can be traced back to the Middle English "dicke," meaning thick or stout. In Old English, the word "deah" was used to refer to the penis, but it fell out of use by the end of the Old English period in the 11th century. Afterward, the Middle English word "pyllock" was commonly used for the male anatomy, but it fell out of use around the 14th century. As English continued to evolve, the word "dicke" came into use as a term for the penis around the 15th century. Its exact origins as a slang term are unclear, but it may have emerged as a euphemistic alternative to more graphic words like "cock" and "prick." As slang, "dick" was first recorded in print in the late 17th century. Despite its origins, the continued use of "dick" as a slang term for the male genitalia is considered vulgar and offensive by many, and its usage is discouraged in formal contexts.