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plutherusInteresting etymological facts of the day:
The English word "portmanteau", meaning a word formed by blending two words into one, is itself a portmanteau.
It is based on the French word "Portemanteau", a blend of "porter" (to carry) and "manteau" (a cloak, or coat.) When put together, however, the word can refer to either a bag in which a coat is carried (a garment bag we'd call it), or a coat rack.
Also of interest, the English word Portmanteau was intentionally invented by Lewis Caroll in order to give a name to the combined words he made heavy use of in Jabberwocky.
The word "smog" is also a portmanteau, originally describing the deadly London smoke combined with fog.
Thutt is another that several people reading this will be aware of.
And, of course, the infamous "malamanteau" of xkcd pissing off half of Wikipedia fame.
The English word "portmanteau", meaning a word formed by blending two words into one, is itself a portmanteau.
It is based on the French word "Portemanteau", a blend of "porter" (to carry) and "manteau" (a cloak, or coat.) When put together, however, the word can refer to either a bag in which a coat is carried (a garment bag we'd call it), or a coat rack.
Also of interest, the English word Portmanteau was intentionally invented by Lewis Caroll in order to give a name to the combined words he made heavy use of in Jabberwocky.
The word "smog" is also a portmanteau, originally describing the deadly London smoke combined with fog.
Thutt is another that several people reading this will be aware of.
And, of course, the infamous "malamanteau" of xkcd pissing off half of Wikipedia fame.
