folk etymology

American  

noun

1. a modification of a linguistic form according either to a falsely assumed etymology, as Welsh rarebit from Welsh rabbit, or to a historically irrelevant analogy, as bridegroom from bridegome.

2. a popular but false notion of the origin of a word.

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folk etymology British  

noun

1. the gradual change in the form of a word through the influence of a more familiar word or phrase with which it becomes associated, as for example sparrow-grass for asparagus

2. a popular but erroneous conception of the origin of a word

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Etymology

Origin of folk etymology

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

This is one of those terms for which the internet offers various competing “folk etymologies”, which is the linguist’s polite term for nonsense.

From The Guardian

It was only a matter of time before this pseudo-etymology, or folk etymology, became the main usage.

From New York Times

M ‘miniscule’ Through a popular misconstrual of their parts, and by a process known as “folk etymology”, words can change form without much change of meaning.

From The Guardian

They’re not folk etymologies, he argues, “because this is the usage of one person rather than an entire speech community” – though very common ones could certainly become part of the language.

From The Guardian

Mr. Shapiro said he had little faith that any discovery would sway people from their favorite folk etymology.

From New York Times