folk etymology

Noun

Meaning

a popular but erroneous etymology

Synonyms

Hypernyms

Examples

A common folk etymology attributes the name to the Roman numeral for four (IV), asserting that there was such a sports league originally with four members. Source: Internet

A folk etymology offered is that the word "kand" or "qand" in Persian and Pashto (the local languages) means " candy ". Source: Internet

A less probable folk etymology explains the name as deriving from Baghkuy, meaning "God's town". Source: Internet

An extensive section of Plato 's dialogue Cratylus is devoted to the etymology of the god's name, in which Socrates is arguing for a folk etymology not from "unseen" but from "his knowledge (eidenai) of all noble things". Source: Internet

In this interpretation, Apollo's title of Lykegenes can simply be read as "born in Lycia", which effectively severs the god's supposed link with wolves (possibly a folk etymology ). Source: Internet

Hellenistic folk etymology connected the name of the Galatians (Γαλάται, Galátai) to the supposedly "milk-white" skin (γάλα, gála "milk") of the Gauls. Source: Internet

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