Hickory dickory dock

[Anonymous]

Dear teachers:

I know above from the children's nursery rhyme, "Hickory dickory dock. The mouse went up the clock...."

My question is if it has any meaning at all. Is it a mimetic word or onomatopoeia? Or just for teaching children about rhyme?

Thank you!

[Pete]

Dear teachers:

I know above from the children's nursery rhyme, "Hickory dickory dock. The mouse went up the clock...."

My question is if it has any meaning at all. Is it a mimetic word or onomatopoeia? Or just for teaching children about rhyme?

Thank you!
I don't think anyone knows for sure. A look at a number of Web sites shows a number of theories. Some note that the sounds in "hickory, dickory, dock" are the same as "tick, tock," the sound of a clock; that would be onomatopoeia. One noted that "dickory dock" shows alliteration. Some references, without giving details, say that the words come from ancient Celtic counting words. One went into detail about how wooden clock movements were greased with animal grease that attracted mice.

I suspect that the onomatopoeia mentioned is not just a coincidence, but that mainly it is a nonsense rhyme with no special significance except that it is fun to say.

[Anonymous]

Dear Pete, I can't you thank you enough!

[Lionheart]

The words 'Hickory,' 'Dickory' and 'Dock' actually come from the Old English roots for 'Ten,' 'Eleven' and 'Twelve' respectively (hicore, dicore and doc). Thus, the numbers show the mouse running up the clock to 12, and then 'down he run' after the clock hands started back down (the clock stuck one, two and three).

This is documented in both an article and a book by Dallin D. Oaks, but I can't remember which right now.


Dear teachers:

I know above from the children's nursery rhyme, "Hickory dickory dock. The mouse went up the clock...."

My question is if it has any meaning at all. Is it a mimetic word or onomatopoeia? Or just for teaching children about rhyme?

Thank you!