The English language is full of portmanteau words, one word combined with another to create an entirely new meaning. Amtrak (American and track), motel (motor and hotel), Texarkana (Texas and Arkansas), smog (smoke and fog), Oxbridge (Oxford and Cambridge) and Billary (Bill and Hillary Clinton) are just a few examples. These constructions are terrific because they convey a different ideas than the separate words do. The expression came into use in 1876 in a funny and absurd way.
© 2024 John Oliver
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