portmanteau
Linguistic mash-up
A portmanteau is a word formed by blending parts of two other words: *brunch* from breakfast and lunch, *smog* from smoke and fog.
The term comes from a type of hinged suitcase that opens into two compartments—the linguistic sense captures how two words are packed into one.
Spork, motel, and emoticon are all portmanteaus.
Portable travel container
- trunkMain stem or storage
- valiseSmall traveling case
- carry-onBag kept in cabin
- duffelCylindrical fabric bag
satchel · trolley · briefcase · carpetbag · hatbox · weekender · grip · hardcase
Break violently apart
- mashupCombined creative fusion
- fusionJoining into unity
- neologismNewly created expression
- coinageInvented term or currency
brunch · motel · spork · labradoodle · chillax · bromance · frenemy · staycation
Wordplay using double meanings
- spoonerismAccidental sound transposition
- malapropismSound-alike word confusion
- anagramReshuffled letter word
- neologismNewly created expression
coinage · wordsmith · linguistic · compound · clipping · contraction · abbreviation · acronym
Track system for trains
- steamshipBoiler-propelled water vessel
- bellhopHotel luggage attendant
- customsTraditional practices or import taxes
- voyageJourney by sea
expedition · Victorian · transatlantic · hotel · journey · abroad · continental · touring
suitcase
Portable travel container
duffel · satchel · trolley · briefcase · carpetbag · hatbox · weekender · grip · hardcase
smash
Break violently apart
coinage · brunch · motel · spork · labradoodle · chillax · bromance · frenemy · staycation · glamping
pun
Wordplay using double meanings
- spoonerismAccidental sound transposition
- malapropismSound-alike word confusion
- anagramReshuffled letter word
neologism · coinage · wordsmith · linguistic · compound · clipping · contraction · abbreviation · acronym · backformation
railway
Track system for trains
- steamshipBoiler-propelled water vessel
- bellhopHotel luggage attendant
- customsTraditional practices or import taxes
voyage · expedition · Victorian · transatlantic · hotel · journey · abroad · continental · touring
- vocabularyword, words, new words, term, terms
- luggagesuitcase, carry-on bag, carry-on, duffel bag, checked bag
- mixturesmix, mixture, blend, blending, amalgam
- vintage travelsteamship, steamer trunk, railway station, train station, sleeping car
- word playpuns, palindrome, anagrams, anagram, spoonerism
- etymologyword origins, word history, word origin, etymon, root words
portmanteauacronym
Word made from initials
initialism · root word · abbreviation · compound word · clipping