portmanteaux

portmanteaux

A linguist explains portmanteaux like "brunch" and "smog" on a whiteboard.

Definition
  1. Noun (plural of ):
    • A large travelling bag: "portmanteaux" refers to multiple suitcases or trunks designed for carrying clothes and belongings while travelling, especially in historical contexts before modern luggage.
    • A blended word: In linguistics, "portmanteaux" are words formed by combining the sounds and meanings of two or more other words. For example, brunch (breakfast + lunch) or smog (smoke + fog). This figurative meaning comes from the idea of a "portmanteau" being a bag that holds two items.
Usage Examples

  • Travelling bag sense:

    • The travellers carried their portmanteaux to the carriage. (Multiple large suitcases for a journey.)
    • She packed her clothes neatly into the old leather portmanteaux. (Historical luggage items.)

  • Blended word sense:

    • The word 'slanguage' is one of many creative portmanteaux in English. (A blend of 'slang' and 'language'.)
    • Linguists study portmanteaux to understand how languages evolve through word fusion. (Multiple blended words.)
Advanced Usage

  • "Portmanteaux" as a linguistic term: The word is often used in academic writing about word formation, especially in discussions of neologisms (newly coined words).

    • Lewis Carroll invented many portmanteaux in his poem 'Jabberwocky', such as 'slithy' from 'slimy' and 'lithe'. (Carroll created blended words for literary effect.)

  • Historical context: In the 19th century, portmanteaux were common travel accessories, often made of leather and hinged to open like a book.

    • The Victorian gentleman stored his suits and hats in his portmanteaux before boarding the train. (Large travel trunks.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Portmanteau (singular noun): the base form; a single travelling bag or a single blended word.

    • He carried a single portmanteau on his journey. (One bag.)
    • 'Motel' is a portmanteau of 'motor' and 'hotel'. (One blended word.)

  • Portmanteau word (noun phrase): a synonym for "portmanteau" in the linguistic sense.

    • 'Spork' is a portmanteau word from 'spoon' and 'fork'. (A blended utensil term.)
Synonyms
  • For the travelling bag sense: , , , .
  • For the blended word sense: , , , .
Related Idioms
  • "To pack one's portmanteaux": an idiomatic expression meaning to prepare for a journey, especially a long one.
    • She packed her portmanteaux weeks before the trip. (She prepared her luggage in advance.)