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Synonyms

nursery rhyme

American  

noun

  1. a short, simple poem or song for very young children, as Hickory Dickory Dock.

nursery rhyme British  

noun

  1. a short traditional verse or song for children, such as Little Jack Horner

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of nursery rhyme

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But several of those madcap ideas flummoxed fans—Carlin pointed to the 1972 single “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” which was inspired by the nursery rhyme.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

The conceit sounds simple today: Kids are given a small plastic key, for which they insert in a box near an installation and then are regaled with music and a short nursery rhyme or folktale.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 21, 2026

A house on the site said to be the inspiration for the Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme has been put up for sale.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2024

According to the nursery rhyme, which item was used as a boat by Wynken, Blynken, and Nod?

From Slate • Dec. 26, 2023

Tea—oceans of tea—and a ridiculous nursery rhyme called “Hickory Dickory Dock.”

From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.