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Definition folk etymology in British English

folk etymology noun

[countable] noun
/ˌfəʊk etɪˈmɒlədʒi/
1

an explanation for the origin of a word or phrase that is believed by many people to be true but that cannot be proved, for example, the belief that 'posh' stands for 'port out, starboard home'

Synonyms and related words
1.1

the process by which people adapt a word or phrase that is unfamiliar or foreign to a more familiar form

Synonyms and related words
Definition folk etymology in British English