folk etymology
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noun
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.
a popular but false notion of the origin of a word.
Origin of folk etymology
First recorded in 1880–85
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for folk etymology
Historical Examples of folk etymology
It has sometimes been assumed that most names of this class are due to folk-etymology.
The Romance of NamesErnest Weekley
This historical connection is most probably due to folk-etymology.
The Romance of NamesErnest Weekley
But occasionally the results of folk-etymology are literally preposterous.
The Romance of Words (4th ed.)Ernest Weekley
The companion-ladder on ship-board is a product of folk-etymology.
The Romance of Words (4th ed.)Ernest Weekley
But the story of Tuna gives no folk-etymology of the name Tuna.
Modern MythologyAndrew Lang
folk etymology
noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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