Categories: RattleBag and Rhubarb

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Blog -a modern portmanteau* word

breakfast plus lunch= brunch
smoke plus fog = smog
web plus log = blog

Humpty Dumpty explains it all to Alice:

“Well, “slithy” means “lithe and slimy.” “Lithe” is the same as “active.” You see it’s like a portmanteau – there are two meanings packed up into one word…
…Well then, ‘mimsy’ is ‘flimsy and miserable’ (there’s another portmanteau for you).”

From Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll

*Portmanteau – from French “porter” (to carry) and “manteau” (a coat or cover) – a large travelling bag or suitcase with two compartments, hence the linguistic fusing of two words and their meanings into one.

JosieHolford

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