portmanteau

[pawrt-man-toh, pawrt-man-toh]

noun

plural

portmanteaus, portmanteaux 

1. Chiefly British.,  a case or bag to carry clothing in while traveling, especially a leather trunk or suitcase that opens into two halves.

2. Linguistics.

   1. Also called portmanteau word. a word that combines the form and meaning of two or more other words; a blend.

   2. Also called portmanteau morph. a phonological unit of more than one morpheme, as French au (to the) from à to + le masculine article, which realizes a preposition and the definite article; a single morph that is analyzed as representing two underlying morphemes.

3. something that combines or blends several items, features, or qualities.

   I've gathered a portmanteau of ideas from my colleagues.

adjective

1. combining or blending several items, features, or qualities.

   a portmanteau film with two good stories.

portmanteau

/ pɔːtˈmæntəʊ /

noun

1. (formerly) a large travelling case made of stiff leather, esp one hinged at the back so as to open out into two compartments

2. (modifier) embodying several uses or qualities

   the heroine is a portmanteau figure of all the virtues

Word History and Origins

Origin of portmanteau¹

From French portemanteau literally, “(it) carries (the) cloak”; port ⁵, mantle; portmanteau def. 1 was first recorded in 1575–85, and portmanteau def. 2a in 1871 in Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll.

Word History and Origins

Origin of portmanteau¹

C16: from French: cloak carrier, from porter to carry + manteau cloak, _mantle

Example Sentences

Last summer, “snackle boxes” — a portmanteau of snack and tackle boxes — went viral across social media as a must-have container for better snacking.

Read more on Salon

The Chinatown gallery name derives from that studio moniker, itself a portmanteau of “Mutant” and “Potato.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The word "PANICAN" could be a portmanteau of "panic" and "Americans", although an alternative theory suggests that it combines "panic" and "Republicans".

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Brands have also hopped on the spicy and “swicy” — a portmanteau of “sweet” and “spicy” — trends.

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Dentistry is just one example of what in the real estate business is known as “medtail,” a portmanteau of “medical” and “retail.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times