cuff/cup eggcorns?

[Arnold Zwicky]

On Dec 19, 2008, at 8:03 PM, Herb Stahlke wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Herb Stahlke <hfwstahlke at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      cuff/cup eggcorns?
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I've frequently heard the expressions "rotator cup" and "blood
> pressure cup" for "rotator cuff" and "blood pressure cuff."  Google
> hits ...
>
> ... why would "cup" replace "cuff"?  Is the use of "cuff" as a strip
> or fold encircling the wrist or ankle at the end of a sleeve/trouser
> leg falling out of common use so that the resemblence of the BP
> instrument no longer obviously resembles one?

but "cup" wouldn't make more sense.

this is likely to originate from a mishearing, i'd guess.

arnold

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