pseudoetymology

Pseudoetymology refers to a type of folk etymology where a word's origin is explained through a fabricated or mistaken connection to other words or concepts. This often occurs when the actual etymology of a word is obscure, forgotten, or difficult to understand, leading people to create a more plausible-sounding explanation based on familiar linguistic patterns. Pseudoetymologies can arise from misinterpretations, linguistic coincidences, or a desire to imbue a word with a more significant or meaningful origin story. They are distinct from genuine etymological research, which relies on historical linguistic evidence.

These invented explanations often involve reanalyzing a word's components to fit a new meaning, sometimes by splitting a word into parts that resemble existing words with a related sense. For example, the word "hangnail" is not derived from a nail that hangs, but rather from Old English words related to being a small piece of skin. The pseudoetymological explanation is more intuitive but incorrect. Such folk etymologies can spread through popular usage and become widely accepted, even in the face of correct linguistic evidence. They are a common phenomenon across many languages and have been observed throughout history. While often harmless, pseudoetymologies can sometimes obscure the true linguistic history of a word.