Cognomen
A cognomen (/kɒɡˈnoʊmən/,Latin: [koːŋˈnoːmen]; Latin plural cōgnōmina; con- "together with" and (g)nōmen "name") was the third name of a citizen of ancient Rome, under Roman naming conventions. Initially, it was a nickname, but it lost that purpose when it became hereditary. Hereditary cognomina were used to augment the second name (the family name, or clan name) in order to identify a particular branch within a family or family within a clan. The term has also taken on other contemporary meanings.
Roman names
Because of the limited nature of the Latin praenomen, the cognomen developed to distinguish branches of the family from one another, and occasionally, to highlight an individual's achievement, typically in warfare. One example being Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, whose cognomen Magnus was earned after his military victories under Sulla's dictatorship. The cognomen was a form of distinguishing people who made important feats, and those who already bore a cognomen were awarded another exclusive name, the agnomen. For example, Publius Cornelius Scipio received the agnomen Africanus after his victory over the Carthaginian general Hannibal at Zama, Africa (Africanus here means "of Africa" in the sense that his fame derives from Africa, rather than being born in Africa, which would have been Afer); and the same procedure occurred in the names of Quintus Caecilius Metellus Numidicus (conqueror of Numidia) and Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus.
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Gunman
by: David BowieGunman, my sort of star, we put you there You’re all of us now, you’re all over town An wrappers and cans, you’re bigger then life You’re braver than dad You’re a gunman, holding your own You’re a gunman, never alone Gunman, leader of packs, shadow of death Killer in chic, never betrayed, friend of our kids You’re a gunman, holding your own You’re a gunman, never alone Gunman . . . gunman . . . trader in arms Kids on the street, buying your charms Gunman, my sort of star, we put you there You’re all of us now, you’re all over town On wrappers and cans, you’re bigger than life You’re braver than dad You’re a gunman, holding your own You’re a gunman, you’re never alone Gunman . . . gunman Gunman, my sort of star, we’re bleeding for you, we put you there What would you give, your all of us now, we’re burning for you You’re all over our town, gunman, you’re on rappers and cans You’re bigger than life and we’re dying for you and you’re braver than dad, gunman. . .You’re woman are dogs But they’re braver than you We’re bleeding for you What would you give We’re burning for you, gunman We invented you, now we’ve gotta live with you, you’re more solid Than a rock, a rock of cocaine or crack or ice or death Like a rock of death, like a gravestone, gunman. . .