A "Portmanteau word" is a phrase used to describe a linguistic blend, namely "a word formed by blending sounds from two or more distinct words and combining their meanings."
Such a definition of "portmanteau word" overlaps with the grammatical term contraction, and linguists avoid using the former term in such cases. As an example: the words do + not become the contraction don't, a single word that represents the meaning of the combined words.
A distinction can be made between the two by noting that contractions can only be formed with two words that would otherwise appear in sequence within the sentence, whereas a "Portmanteau word" is typically formed by combining two or more existing words that all relate to a singular concept which the new portmanteau is meant to describe. An example being the well-known portmanteau word "Spanglish", referring to speaking a mix of both Spanish and English at the same time.
According to the The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, the word portmanteau comes from French porter, to carry + manteau, cloak (from Old French mantel, from Latin mantellum).
Many neologisms are examples of blends, but many blends have become part of the lexicon. In Punch in 1896, the word brunch (breakfast + lunch) was introduced as a "portmanteau word." In 1964, the newly independent African republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar chose the portmanteau word Tanzania as its name. A spork is an eating utensil that is a combination of a spoon and fork.
Here are a few portmanteau words we all know...
Brunch = breakfast + lunch
Camcorder = camera + recorder
Chortle = chuckle + snort
Guestimate= guess + estimate
Heliport + helicopter + airport
Laundromat = laundry + automat
Motel= motor + hotel
Motorcade= motorcar + cavalcade
Newscast = news + broadcast
Oxbridge = Oxford + Cambridge
Paratroop = parachute + troop
Sci-Fi= science + fiction
Telecast= television + broadcast
Televangelist= television + evangelist
and a few more I "came across"...
antediluviantiquated = antediluvian + antiquated
arcticy = arctic + icy
babblecture = babble + lecture
ballyhoopla = ballyhoo + hoopla
blurbanize = blur + urbanize
breezephyr = breeze + zephyr
clapplause = clap + applause
depicture = depict + picture
drumble = drum + rumble
flashowy = flash + showy
fundertaking = fun + undertaking
gooze = goo + ooze
gyrateeter = gyrate + teeter
headministrator = head + administrator
humoriginality = humor + originality
legerdemaincantation = legerdemain + incantation
longhandwriting = longhand + handwriting
outrageousurious = outrageous + usurious
penclosure = pen + enclosure
pushove = push + shove
pushuffle = push + shuffle
scramblend = scramble + blend
shoutcry = shout + outcry
sirenchantress = siren + enchantress
stoperation = stop + operation (for Congress)
stoven = stove + oven
stupidiot = stupid + idiot
swerveer = swerve + veer
taxidermistuffer = taxidermist + stuffer
whimpulse = whim + impulse
And then my wife, Judy added...
floordrobe.
She says, "This is a form of clothing storage that does not require dressers, closets, or hangers. The clothing is stored on the floor and the user simply pulls out the desired item. This could also be called a walk-on closet."
Such a definition of "portmanteau word" overlaps with the grammatical term contraction, and linguists avoid using the former term in such cases. As an example: the words do + not become the contraction don't, a single word that represents the meaning of the combined words.
A distinction can be made between the two by noting that contractions can only be formed with two words that would otherwise appear in sequence within the sentence, whereas a "Portmanteau word" is typically formed by combining two or more existing words that all relate to a singular concept which the new portmanteau is meant to describe. An example being the well-known portmanteau word "Spanglish", referring to speaking a mix of both Spanish and English at the same time.
According to the The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, the word portmanteau comes from French porter, to carry + manteau, cloak (from Old French mantel, from Latin mantellum).
Many neologisms are examples of blends, but many blends have become part of the lexicon. In Punch in 1896, the word brunch (breakfast + lunch) was introduced as a "portmanteau word." In 1964, the newly independent African republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar chose the portmanteau word Tanzania as its name. A spork is an eating utensil that is a combination of a spoon and fork.
Here are a few portmanteau words we all know...
Brunch = breakfast + lunch
Camcorder = camera + recorder
Chortle = chuckle + snort
Guestimate= guess + estimate
Heliport + helicopter + airport
Laundromat = laundry + automat
Motel= motor + hotel
Motorcade= motorcar + cavalcade
Newscast = news + broadcast
Oxbridge = Oxford + Cambridge
Paratroop = parachute + troop
Sci-Fi= science + fiction
Telecast= television + broadcast
Televangelist= television + evangelist
and a few more I "came across"...
antediluviantiquated = antediluvian + antiquated
arcticy = arctic + icy
babblecture = babble + lecture
ballyhoopla = ballyhoo + hoopla
blurbanize = blur + urbanize
breezephyr = breeze + zephyr
clapplause = clap + applause
depicture = depict + picture
drumble = drum + rumble
flashowy = flash + showy
fundertaking = fun + undertaking
gooze = goo + ooze
gyrateeter = gyrate + teeter
headministrator = head + administrator
humoriginality = humor + originality
legerdemaincantation = legerdemain + incantation
longhandwriting = longhand + handwriting
outrageousurious = outrageous + usurious
penclosure = pen + enclosure
pushove = push + shove
pushuffle = push + shuffle
scramblend = scramble + blend
shoutcry = shout + outcry
sirenchantress = siren + enchantress
stoperation = stop + operation (for Congress)
stoven = stove + oven
stupidiot = stupid + idiot
swerveer = swerve + veer
taxidermistuffer = taxidermist + stuffer
whimpulse = whim + impulse
And then my wife, Judy added...
floordrobe.
She says, "This is a form of clothing storage that does not require dressers, closets, or hangers. The clothing is stored on the floor and the user simply pulls out the desired item. This could also be called a walk-on closet."
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