Portmanteau
/ˌpɔːrt.mænˈtoʊ/noun
A large traveling case, or a word formed by blending two words and their meanings.
Did you know?Lewis Carroll popularized the modern blended-word sense in 1871, describing words as if two meanings had been packed into one linguistic suitcase.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*per-
“To pass through or carry across; a proposed ancient root behind later Latin carrying words.”
Classical Latin
Latin
portāre
“To carry or bear.”
Classical Latin
Latin
mantellum
“A cloak or covering garment.”
16th Century
French
portemanteau
“A case or frame for carrying clothing, literally a cloak-carrier.”
16th Century
English
portmantew
“A traveling trunk or clothes case borrowed from French.”
19th Century
English
portmanteau
“A blended word; Lewis Carroll helped establish this figurative sense.”
Modern English
English
portmanteau
“A blend combining parts and meanings of two words, such as “smog” from smoke and fog.”
Explore more surprising origins