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malamanteau

I know that Randall (from xkcd) invented this word as a joke, but now I'm wondering. Are there any examples of real words that are "A portmanteau created by incorrectly combining a malapropism with a neologism"?

I can think of some words that are close, but not quite right. For example,"misunderestimate" is simultaneously a neologism, a portmanteau, and a malapropism. However, it is not a malamanteau. Are there any better examples of this?

  • cromulent? It's a combination of crompehensible and the suffix -ulent (meaning full of). But I guess -ulent isn't a neologism. – Peter Shor Oct 16 '15 at 02:45
  • "Weak-a-pedia" might qualify, if you consider "weak-a" a malapropism for "wiki." – Sven Yargs Oct 16 '15 at 02:46
  • Yeah I started a blog about the malamanteaus after he did that site. Picked up a few questionable ones just by setting up google alerts for the word. If you run across more I'll totally add them.

    http://malamanteaus.blogspot.com/

    – Mxyzptlk Oct 16 '15 at 15:11
  • malamanteau = neoloschism yes? https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/408850/is-there-a-name-for-the-process-of-patterning-new-words-after-old-ones-in-ways-t – Phil Sweet Mar 19 '20 at 21:40

3 Answers3

4

A great subcultural linguistic movement is centered on this very concept: it's a specific Canadian and P/NW slang associated with tech, mechanics, and tradespeople--its apotheosis is a prolific youtuber known by the moniker AvE. There's a sensational glossary at: https://bumblefuckerytoenglish.com/

Consider the self-explanatory, but crisply inventive: prefamulated

Procrasterbation

Shituation

Stealership

unobtainium

Kanuckistan

Sterling examples all of this inventive and emergent ("emectant?") trope in action! A quick visit with a curious mind (a "Quisit"?) is well worth the price of admission (So you don't need "Primission" first!)

2

Yes. Malamanteau itself is.

A malamanteau is a neologism for a portmanteau created by incorrectly combining a neologism and a malapropism. It's itself a portmanteau of malapropism and portmanteau. It's also a malapropism of portmanteau. It's also a neologism coined when the comic was made.

0

I found multiple uses of the word "skyeeter" as a username online. This is presumably a portmanteau of "yeet" (a neologism referring to a powerful throw) and "skeeter" (a malapropism of "mosquito"). Malamanteau? Edit: okay, "skeeter" may not strictly be a malapropism, but it's close! I'll keep looking.