paraphrastic etymology

Paraphrastic Etymology

Paraphrastic etymology, also known as folk etymology, is a type of linguistic phenomenon where a word's origin and meaning are explained through a common or creative explanation, rather than its actual historical derivation.

Meaning

Paraphrastic etymologies are often playful or humorous attempts to connect a word's form to its perceived meaning. They may be based on sound or spelling similarities, puns, or cultural associations.

Origin

Paraphrastic etymologies have been documented in various languages and cultures throughout history. They often arise when a word's true etymology is obscure or forgotten, or when people want to create a more relatable or memorable explanation.

Examples

Some common examples of paraphrastic etymologies include:

• Cucumber: From "cow and cumber," because it was believed to grow in cow dung.
• Goosebumps: From "goose pimples," due to the resemblance of the raised skin to the skin of a plucked goose.
• Nightmare: From "night mare," because it was believed to be caused by an evil spirit in the form of a horse.
• Shampoo: From the Hindi word "chāmpo," which means "to massage."
• Traffic light: A combination of "traffic" and "light," which is a more descriptive explanation than the original term "semaphore."

Significance

Paraphrastic etymologies can offer insights into popular beliefs, cultural associations, and the playful nature of language. They can also be used as a tool for understanding the evolution of words and their meaning over time.

paraphrastic relate terms

• paraphrase

  Etymology From the Greek para beside and graphe writing Meaning A rephras

• para

  Etymology The word para originates from the Greek preposition παρά pará which

• phrase

  Etymology is the study of the origin and development of words It involves examining the h

• metaphrastic

  Metaphrastic Etymology Meaning The study of the etymological origins of words that are u

• republic

  Etymology Derived from the Latin word res publica literally meaning public thing or

• poindexter

  Etymology The term Poindexter originated as a fictional character in the 1950s comic s

• akimbo

  Etymology From the Kongo Bantu language word nkumbu meaning one that is bent M

• hocus pocus

  Etymology Hocus noun A juggler or magician first recorded in the 1500s Possibly de

• bootstrap

  Etymology The word bootstrap comes from the phrase pull oneself up by one s bootstrap

• shindig

  Etymology Shindig is an alteration of the earlier word shenanigan which was first us

• boondoggle

  Origin and Etymology of Boondoggle The term boondoggle is believed to have originated

• squander

  Etymology Middle English scaterin scateren Old English scaterian Proto Germanic sk

• sophomore

  Etymology The word sophomore comes from the Greek words sophos σοφός meaning