folk etymology

noun

: the transformation of words so as to give them an apparent relationship to other better-known or better-understood words (as in the change of Spanish cucaracha to English cockroach)

folk-etymological

ˈfōk-ˌe-tə-mə-ˈlä-ji-kəl 

adjective

folk-etymological alterations

folk-etymologize

ˈfōk-ˌe-tə-ˈmä-lə-ˌjīz 

transitive verb

folk-etymologized; folk-etymologizing; folk-etymologizes

The French term chaise longue, meaning "long chair," was folk-etymologized in English to chaise lounge.

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined above