curb etymology

Meaning: A word or phrase that has been altered in pronunciation and meaning by folk etymology, a type of false etymology based on a misunderstood or fanciful association.

Origin:

• The term "curb" in this context is short for "curtailed etymology."
• Originally, "curtailed" referred to the process of cutting off or shortening something.
• In the case of language, it refers to the alteration or modification of a word's form or meaning.
• "Etymology" refers to the study of the origin and history of words.
• Therefore, "curb etymology" essentially means an altered or curtailed etymology.

Explanation:

Curb etymology occurs when people try to explain the origin of a word or phrase based on a superficial or mistaken connection. For example:

• "Orange" is mistakenly associated with the color, even though it originally comes from the French word for "apple."
• "Burgundy" is associated with the wine region, when it actually derives from the Germanic tribe the Burgundians.

Over time, these false etymologies become widely accepted and replace the true origins of the words. This can lead to misunderstanding and confusion about the history and evolution of language.

curb relate terms

• kerb

  Etymology Old English ceorfan to cut Meaning A raised edge or rim often used

• curb

  Meaning A word or phrase that has been altered in pronunciation and meaning by folk etymo

• curbstone

  Etymology The word curbstone is derived from the following Latin and Old English roots

• curb

  Meaning A word or phrase that has been altered in pronunciation and meaning by folk etymo

• stone

  Etymology The word stone comes from the Old English word stān which is derived from

• curtail

  Etymology Middle English curtailen from Anglo Norman French curtailer Ultimately

• control

  Etymology Latin controllus meaning check restraint French contrôle English

• hold

  Etymology Old English healdan Proto West Germanic haldan Proto Germanic haldaną P

• repress

  Etymology The word repress originates from the Latin prefix re meaning back or

• glebe

  Etymology The word glebe originates from the Old English word gleoba meaning turf

• reprimand

  Etymology Reprimand comes from the French word réprimander which in turn comes from t

• catch

  Etymology The word catch comes from the Middle English word cacchen which itself der

• Catch 22

  Etymology Catch 22 is a phrase invented by the American novelist Joseph Heller in his 1

• circumscribe

  Etymology The word circumscribe comes from the Latin circumscribere meaning to draw