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“folk etymology”
1. The incorrect origin for a word; an idea about the origin of a word that is generally believed but is incorrect.
2. A modification of a linguistic form according either to a falsely assumed etymology, or to a historically irrelevant analogy.
2. A popular but false notion of the origin of a word.
2. A modification of a linguistic form according either to a falsely assumed etymology, or to a historically irrelevant analogy.
2. A popular but false notion of the origin of a word.
A few humorous examples of folk etymology
The word woman is derived from woe- + man; and so, "a bringer of woe".
The origin of virgin, comes from vir, Latin for "man", and gin, "a trap" and so a virgin is "a mantrap" or a "trapper of men".
This entry is located in the following units:
etym-
(page 2)
-ology, -logy, -ologist, -logist
(page 28)