A retronym is a word coined to distinguish something new from an older, more generic version, such as electric guitar or clock radio. A couple of new retronyms are fine water, or “unprocessed water that reflects a region’s terroir” and water sommelier, a professional who procures and dispenses such water to a growing number of fine water enthusiasts. This is part of a complete episode.
I was drawn to the Retronym discussion. I remember that when I was a kid, supermarkets sold both Cereal and Cold Cereal. Now, they sell Cereal (née Cold Cereal) and Hot Cereal (née Cereal). That’s a swap in retronyms. What would you call that, an antallnym? (Thanks to AI for finding antallasso and antallagi meaning swap).
An 1875 dictionary of the Sussex dialect from southeastern England gives a colorful glimpse of life there in those days. A beever is “an 11 o’clock luncheon.” In parts of Sussex, a ladybug is variously known as a Bishop Barnaby, a fly-golding, or...
A Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, listener says when he was growing up, his family used the word schmutz as a verb. For example, when one parent reminded the other to apply sunscreen to the youngsters, they might say Make sure you schmutz the kids...
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I was drawn to the Retronym discussion. I remember that when I was a kid, supermarkets sold both Cereal and Cold Cereal. Now, they sell Cereal (née Cold Cereal) and Hot Cereal (née Cereal). That’s a swap in retronyms. What would you call that, an antallnym? (Thanks to AI for finding antallasso and antallagi meaning swap).