Willie
/ˈwɪli/noun
A diminutive form of William, and in informal British English, a euphemism for the penis.
Did you know?The nickname comes from William, whose Germanic elements mean roughly “will, desire” and “helmet, protection,” while the anatomical euphemism developed later from the familiar male name.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*Wiljahelmaz
“A compound meaning approximately “will, desire” plus “helmet” or “protective covering.””
Old High German
Old High German
Willahelm
“The personal name William, carrying the sense “resolute protector.””
11th Century
Old French
Williame / Guillaume
“The Norman-French form of the Germanic personal name.”
Middle English
English
Willelm / William
“The established English personal name.”
Middle English to Early Modern English
English
Willie
“A familiar or diminutive form of William.”
19th Century
English
willie / willy
“Informal British euphemistic slang for the penis, probably arising from the male personal name.”