spoonerism


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Related to spoonerism: malapropism

spoon·er·ism

(spo͞o′nə-rĭz′əm)
n.
A transposition of sounds of two or more words, especially a ludicrous one, such as Let me sew you to your sheet for Let me show you to your seat.
[After William Archibald Spooner (1844-1930), British cleric and scholar.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

spoonerism

(ˈspuːnəˌrɪzəm)
n
(Linguistics) the transposition of the initial consonants or consonant clusters of a pair of words, often resulting in an amusing ambiguity of meaning, such as hush my brat for brush my hat
[C20: named after W. A. Spooner (1844–1930), English clergyman renowned for slips of this kind]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

spoon•er•ism

(ˈspu nəˌrɪz əm)

n.
the transposition of initial or other sounds of words, as in a blushing crow for a crushing blow.
[1895–1900; after W. A. Spooner (1844–1930), English clergyman noted for such slips]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Spoonerism

the transposition of initial or other sounds of words, usually by accident, as “queer dean” for “dear Queen.” [After the Rev. W. A. Spooner, 1844-1930, noted for such slips.] — spoonerize, v.
See also: Language
-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

spoonerism

The unintentional, often ludicrous, transposition of the opening sounds of two or more words, as in “tons of soil” instead of “sons of toil;” named for W.A. Spooner (1844–1930), an English clergyman renowned for doing this.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun 1. spoonerism - transposition of initial consonants in a pair of words
slip of the tongue - an accidental and usually trivial mistake in speaking
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations

spoonerism

[ˈspuːnərɪzəm] N → trastrueque m verbal, trastrueque m de palabras
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

spoonerism

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
References in periodicals archive ?
-The best spoonerism I've heard came from my sister while she was house-hunting recently.
Dear Jo: That's my misteak, madam!
One of my favorite varieties of spoonerism is the narrative form, in which a setup is followed by a punned punch line.
"Hey--stumble? Stay humble!" More story spoonerisms
QUIZ OF THE DAY: 1 Transvaal; 2 Eric Cantona; 3 Jackie Stewart; 4 A fish; 5 Spoonerism; 6 Strictly Come Dancing; 7 Denmark; 8 The chimpanzee; 9 Handel; 10 Arnhem.
QUIZ OF THE DAY; coffee break
MY most unfortunate spoonerism was when I said to my New Year's Eve guests: "Help yourselves do some farty pood!" No one fancied it after that.
Dear Jo: Readers' letters
Last summer on my weekly puzzle segment on NPR's "Weekend Edition Sunday" I ran a creative competition involving spoonerism riddles.
Spoonerism riddles
MY worst spoonerism was while trying on a low-cut top.
Dear Jo Readers' Letters: Time for Dome truths
1923: Spoonerism. Mixed-up words, after Rev W A Spooner.
100 years in 100 words .
Potter even has the nerve to introduce swearing by spoonerism through old pal Roy Hudd who gets his words mixed up as literary agent Ben Baglin.
Dennis the menace
At this writing, 850 comments are posted, although I didn't spot any that noted that the joke is a spoonerism.
"I WONDER IF THEY SERVE JOOKIES IN KALE": A Plethora of New Spoonerisms, Transpositions, and Chiasmus
This book contains about 200 original and adapted story program activities for use with children, such as movement and musical activities, fingerplays, poems, imagination exercises, participation stories, felt stories, spoonerism stories, and library raps.
200+ Original and Adapted Story Program Activities
Hmm, that's a SPOONERISM. What is it in ordinary English?
The Word Spy
She turn some cooking an hour Hence the arrival last night of The Big Family Cooking Showdown, which is not only a potentially vulgar spoonerism waiting to happen to some poor BBC announcer but also a pretty sly Bake Off spoiler.
Nadiya a natural winner in channels' kitchen wars; Thinking outside the box with Nicola Methven & Mark Jefferies; SQUARE EYES

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