English

Noun

folk etymology ‎(plural folk etymologies)

1. A misunderstanding of the etymology of a word; a false etymology that incorrectly explains the origin of a word.

   Many folk etymologies involve backronyms.

2. A modification of a word or its spelling resulting from such a misunderstanding, as with island, belfry, and hangnail.

Related terms

• folk-etymologize

Translations

See also

• eggcorn, egg corn
• malapropism
• mondegreen