portmanteau

¹port·man·teau

noun \pȯrt-ˈman-(ˌ)tō\

plural port·man·teaus or port·man·teaux\-(ˌ)tōz\

Definition of PORTMANTEAU

1

: a large suitcase

2

: a word or morpheme whose form and meaning are derived from a blending of two or more distinct forms (as smog from smoke and fog)

Examples of PORTMANTEAU

1. <carried her possessions with her in an old portmanteau>

Origin of PORTMANTEAU

Middle French portemanteau, from porter to carry + manteau mantle, from Latin mantellum — more at port

First Known Use: 1579

Related to PORTMANTEAU

Synonyms: carryall, carry-on, grip, handbag, holdall [chiefly British], traveling bag, suitcase, wallet

Related Words: overnight bag (also overnight case), weekend bag (also weekend case), weekender; cosmetic case, traveling case; carpetbag, duffel bag, kit, kit bag; backpack, haversack, knapsack, packsack, rucksack; attaché, attaché case, briefcase, valise; baggage, bags, luggage

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Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile