Word Ways
Abstract
In my forthcoming book on onomastics, "What's in a Name?" from Genealogical Publishers of Baltimore. I discuss the folk etymologies of United States placenames -- among all other aspects of names -- such as "ore or no go" for Oronogo and "all Benny" for Albany. Here are some words originating in the people's distortion of the form or meaning, or based on mistakes of analogy. How many can you recognize?
Recommended Citation
Ashley, Leonard R. N.
(1989)
"Folk Etymology,"
Word Ways: Vol. 22
:
Iss.
2
, Article 17.
Retrieved from:
https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/wordways/vol22/iss2/17
COinS