Folk etymology definition of folk etymology by merriam. Folk etymology involves a change in the form or pronunciation of a word or phrase resulting from a mistaken assumption about its composition or meaning. Linguistics a popular but erroneous conception of the origin of a word. For other examples of folk etymology treated in this book, see coleslaw. English etymology, english language reference, books barnes. A dictionary of verbal corruptions or words perverted in form 9780838302798. A very readable, informative, contentpacked introduction for the.
For place names, there is a specific term, toponymy. Referencedictionaries place names proper names eponyms starscelestial bodies food words american words. Dr durkin investigates folk etymology and other changes which words. Definition of folketymology noun in oxford advanced american dictionary. Folk etymology definition and meaning collins dictionary. The process of altering otherwise incomprehensible words, in order to give them a semblance of meaning, is called folk, or popular, etymology. Trasks dictionary of historical and comparative linguistics or the entry p 142 in the concise oxford dictionary of linguistics or folk etymology in winfred lehmanns historical linguistics. The 40 best etymology books, such as a mushroom word guide, the oxford guide to etymology and coptic etymological dictionary. Folk etymologies article about folk etymologies by the. A dictionary of verbal corruptions or words perverted in form or meaning, by false derivation or mistaken analogy 1882 paperback june 25, 2009. Brookes derivation of machete from spanish macho male is a folk etymology. The oxford dictionary of english etymology thriftbooks. Folk etymology definition is the transformation of words so as to give them an apparent relationship to other betterknown or betterunderstood words as in the change of spanish cucaracha to english cockroach.
Ashley brooklyn college the city university of new york at these conferences on literary onomastics, and at regional in. Philip durkin, chief etymologist of the oxford english dictionary, shows how different types of evidence can shed light on. Folk etymology definition and meaning collins english. Folk etymology has created the cheeseburger and the beanburger, but the first hamburgers were in fact named after the city of hamburg. It is a perfect example of folk etymology, a process by which speakers reshape a word to reflect a plausible though incorrect theory of its origin. Our historical dictionaries are brimming with strange and ridiculous formations, such. Fiction anij folklore, etymology and folk etylviology, linguistics and literature leonard r. A product of ignorance, it nevertheless should not be underestimated as a factor of language history, for many familiar words owe their form to it. He considers how such changes can be part of wider linguistic processes, or be influenced by a.
Old english folc was commonly used in forming compounds 59 are listed in the clark hall dictionary, such as folccwide popular saying, folcgemot town or district meeting. Podcast for kids nfb radio 101 sermon podcast pauping off all steak no sizzle podcast church of the oranges daily chapel spring 2012. A song in the style of folk music, a modern genre of popular music. Wikipedia, lexilogos, oxford, cambridge, chambers harrap, wordreference, collins lexibase dictionaries, merriam webster. The letter s in both the nouns currently spelt island and aisle is due to folk etymological association of those words with the unrelated noun isle. A dictionary of verbal corruptions or words perverted in form new ed of 1883 ed edition. Folk etymology article about folk etymology by the free.
It is based on the original edition of the oxford english dictionary but much augmented by further research on the etymology of english and other languages. The site has become a favorite resource of teachers of reading, spelling, and english as a second language. A folk etymology is an attempt to retroactively explain where a word comes from. Apr 09, 2020 folk etymology countable and uncountable, plural folk etymologies a misunderstanding of the etymology of a word appealing to the unlearned mind. If you have an interest at all in etymology, which i assume you do if you bought this book, then you should know f. Classical etymology, the etymological studies suggested in ar. For languages with a long written history, etymologists make use of texts, and texts about the language, to gather knowledge about how words were used during. From, the internets top choice for quick, reliable, comprehensive yet comprehensible english word origins instantaneous search with spelling suggestions works fast on your android devices.
Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples log in dictionary. A small number of words change their shape in fairly obvious ways due to processes like. We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website, including to provide targeted advertising and track usage. Trask, dictionary of historical and comparative linguistics, folk etymology.
Fiction and folklore, etymology and folk etymology. Linguistics 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 sparrowgrass for asparagus. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. By extension, the phrase the etymology of some words means the origin of the particular word. Etymology ythe e a p ob e o ety o og ca esea c s t e act main problem of etymological research is the fact that the original meaning of a lexeme is unknowable. See folk etymology in the oxford advanced american dictionary check pronunciation. Philip durkin, chief etymologist of the oxford english dictionary, shows how different types of evidence can shed light on the myriad ways in which words change in form and meaning. This book will tell the stories of the scientists who have become diseases and parts of the body, at least in name, the pioneers whose names have become cities and the musicians friends who found their way into songs. Search folk etymology and thousands of other words in english definition and synonym dictionary from reverso. Change in the form of a word or phrase resulting from a mistaken assumption about its composition or meaning, as in shamefaced for earlier shamfast. Oxford english dictionary online, folk etymology, usually, the popular perversion of the form of words in order to render it apparently significant routledge dictionary of language and linguistics folk etymology r. Whether youre a student, an educator, or a lifelong learner, can put you on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement. Take our word for it etymology book store strictly etymology.
Folk etymology academic dictionaries and encyclopedias. The oxford dictionary of english etymology is the most comprehensive etymological dictionary of the english language ever published. Scotiarum historia, 1 hich the concise dictionary of national biography. Folk etymologies are based on misperceptions of foreign words as native words. Folk etymology a dictionary of verbal corruptions or words perverted in form or meaning, by false derivation or mistaken analogy by palmer, rev. Jul, 2011 most of early writing on word origins and a significant amount of contemporary writing was what would now be considered folk etymology. In a special sense, it is intended to denote the corruption which words undergo, owing either to false ideas about their derivation, or to a mistaken analogy with other words to which they are supposed to be related. An etymological dictionary of modern english turuz.
Folk etymology or reanalysis sometimes called popular etymology, analogical reformation, or etymological reinterpretation is a change in a word or phrase resulting from the replacement of an unfamiliar form by a more familiar one. For example samuel johnsons first dictionary gave the origin of bonfire to be from the french for good fire. A dictionary of verbal corruptions or words perverted in form or meaning, by false derivation or mistaken analogy hardback or cased book palmer, abram smythe. He trained as a medievalist and historian of the english language at the university of oxford, where he completed a doctorate on previously unedited middle english prose texts. This practical introduction to word history investigates every aspect of where words come from and how they change. Folk definition and meaning collins english dictionary. By folketymology is meant the influence exercised upon words, both as to their form and meaning, by the popular use and misuse of them. To conclude, the phenomenon in question plays a rather minor role in these books so. Etymology ylexicologygy p gy relies on information derived from mor phology, phonology, semantics, and etymology. Folk etymology is based on purely fortuitous, external sound correspondences. Meaning of etymology with illustrations and photos.
Folketymology synonyms, folketymology pronunciation, folketymology translation, english dictionary definition of folketymology. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Folketymology, as defined by winer, is a popular but false hypothesis for a word derivation, usually based on similarities of phonology or meaning between two or more. In a book of this size a certain number of abbreviations is unavoidable. A dictionary of verbal corruptions or words perverted in form or meaning, by false derivation or mistaken analogy.
Philip durkin is principal etymologist of the oxford english dictionary. Most of early writing on word origins and a significant amount of contemporary writing was what would now be considered folk etymology. An etymological dictionary of arabic peyman mikaili iranian academy of sciences, teheran, ir. It is professional enough to satisfy academic standards, but accessible enough to be used by anyone. Muskrat, helpmate, and 6 more folk etymologies merriam. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. I removed island from the list of examples since theres no folk etymology going on there. Folk etymology meaning in the cambridge english dictionary.
Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the cambridge dictionary editors or of cambridge university press or its licensors. In mythology, an amazon was defined as a female in battle known to live in pontus, close to the black sea. A dictionary of verbal corruptions or words perverted in form or meaning by. A dictionary of verbal corruptions or words perverted in form or meaning, by false derivation or mistaken analogy by abram smythe palmer isbn. Kronenfeld identify two main groups of folk etymology, which they call class i and class ii. Page 365 so when a child, as playful children use, has burnt to tinder a stale last years news, the flame extinct, he views the roving fire there goes my lady, and there goes the squire, there goes the parson, oh. A dictionary of verbal corruptions or words perverted in. If you want a dictionary that includes extensive etymology more than most then the oxford dictionary of the english language is awesome. Related words etymology synonyms, antonyms, hypernyms and hyponyms. Durkin investigates folk etymology and other changes which words undergo in everyday use.
I propose that folk etymology is really just a mechanism for using language creatively and humorously and at its roots has very little to do with etymology. A classic example in english is female, a reshaping of middle english femelle that implies a fictional relationship to the word male. Folk etymology definition is the transformation of words so as to give them an apparent relationship to other betterknown or betterunderstood words as in the change of. Apr 14, 2015 video shows what folk etymology means. Folk etymology definition, 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. Folk etymology dictionary definition folk etymology defined. The basic sources of this work are weekleys an etymological dictionary of modern. The underlying principle of folk etymology is that speakers of a language expect all the wordsand every part of a wordin their language to be legitimate english words or affixes suffix or prefix. The online etymology dictionary is the internets goto source for quick and reliable accounts of the origin and history of english words, phrases, and idioms. I dont understand why one person is complaining about abbreviations. A dictionary of verbal corruptions or words perverted in form or meaning, by false derivation or mistaken analogy 1882 palmer, abram smythe on. You can complete the definition of folk etymology given by the english definition dictionary with other english dictionaries.
The official, complete app of douglas harpers online etymology dictionary, with useful features to help you understand the origins of words as well as improve your vocabulary. Folk etymology the reinterpretation and transformation of obscure words for the most part, of foreign origin through their association with similarsounding words or meaningful parts of words in ones native language. The meaning often changes, and if we go back looking at a worda words history, we could come to an era of which we s. The oxford guide to etymology kindle edition by philip durkin. Folk etymology alphadictionary free english online dictionary.
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