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Definition of Folk Etymology in English :

Define Folk Etymology in English

Folk Etymology meaning in English

Meaning of Folk Etymology in English

Pronunciation of Folk Etymology in English

Folk Etymology pronunciation in English

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Folk Etymology

see synonyms of folk etymology

Noun

1. folk etymology

a popular but erroneous etymology

WordNet Lexical Database for English. Princeton University. 2010.

Folk Etymology

see synonyms of folk etymology
noun
1. 
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
2. 
a popular but erroneous conception of the origin of a word

Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Folk Etymology

see synonyms of 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”

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Folk Etymology

see synonyms of folk etymology
n.
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, "bound by shame," or cutlet from French côtelette, "little rib."

The American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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