ALL meanings of folk etymology
folk etymology
F f - noun folk etymology 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. 1
- noun folk etymology a popular but false notion of the origin of a word. 1
- noun folk etymology 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 0
- noun folk etymology a popular but erroneous conception of the origin of a word 0
- noun folk etymology unscientific etymology; popular but incorrect notion of the origin and derivation of a word: folk etymology may bring about change, as in the case of “cole slaw” becoming “cold slaw” 0