noun
Very common
Richard
RIHCH-uhd
Richard (noun) means Vulgar slang for a piece of solid human waste. Example: “He made an excuse to leave the meeting and go drop a richard.”
noun
1
Vulgar slang for a piece of solid human waste.
"He made an excuse to leave the meeting and go drop a richard."
How to use Richard
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCrude slang for feces; mainly heard in British informal speech.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Richards
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He made an excuse to leave the meeting and go drop a _____.
Etymology
Rhyming slang and euphemistic use of the common given name Richard, unrelated to the word "rich."
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “Richard” mean?
The word “Richard” means vulgar slang for a piece of solid human waste.
How do you pronounce “Richard”?
“Richard” is pronounced RIHCH-uhd (/ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/ in IPA).
How do you use “Richard” in a sentence?
Here is “Richard” used in a sentence: “He made an excuse to leave the meeting and go drop a richard.”
What part of speech is “Richard”?
“Richard” is a noun.
Is “Richard” a common word?
“Richard” is a very common word in modern English.
Where does the slang 'Richard' come from?
It comes from Cockney rhyming slang: 'Richard the Third' rhymes with the vulgar word for a piece of solid waste, and over time this was shortened to just 'Richard.' Rhyming slang works this way across many English terms, swapping a rude or plain word for a rhyming name or phrase.
Is 'Richard' in this sense rude?
Yes. Used to mean a piece of solid human waste, 'Richard' is vulgar, informal slang and is not suitable for polite, professional, or formal writing. It appears mainly in casual British speech and humour. The neutral, everyday alternatives are clinical terms such as 'stool' or plain words like 'poop.'
Does 'Richard' have other slang meanings?
Yes. In Cockney rhyming slang, 'Richard the Third' can also stand for 'bird,' meaning a woman or, separately, a prison sentence, depending on context. Slang meanings shift with region and era, so the intended sense usually depends heavily on how and where the word is being used.
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