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folk etymology
noun
- a modification of a linguistic form according either to a falsely assumed etymology, as Welsh rarebit from Welsh rabbit, or to a historically irrelevant analogy, as bridegroom from bridegome.
- a popular but false notion of the origin of a word.
folk etymology
noun
- the gradual change in the form of a word through the influence of a more familiar word or phrase with which it becomes associated, as for example sparrow-grass for asparagus
- a popular but erroneous conception of the origin of a word
亚洲网紅露点 History and Origins
Origin of folk etymology1
Example Sentences
This is one of those terms for which the internet offers various competing 鈥渇olk etymologies鈥, which is the linguist鈥檚 polite term for nonsense.
It was only a matter of time before this pseudo-etymology, or folk etymology, became the main usage.
M 鈥榤iniscule鈥 Through a popular misconstrual of their parts, and by a process known as 鈥渇olk etymology鈥, words can change form without much change of meaning.
They鈥檙e not folk etymologies, he argues, 鈥渂ecause this is the usage of one person rather than an entire speech community鈥 鈥 though very common ones could certainly become part of the language.
Mr. Shapiro said he had little faith that any discovery would sway people from their favorite folk etymology.
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