Folk etymology

Noun

Définitions

1.NounA popular explanation for the origin of a term which has been rejected as false by expert etymologists.

"Many English folk etymologies involve backronyms.; The spelling in 'sovereign' was influenced by folk-etymology association with 'reign'."

2.NounA modification of a word or its spelling resulting from a misunderstanding of its etymology, as with island, belfry, and hangnail.

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