"Earworm"

[Jonathan Lighter]

According to Heather Wood and the other fine folks at the Forum for Ballad Scholars (<BALLAD-L at LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>), an "earworm" is a nagging tune that is maddeningly difficult to get out of one's mind.  As far as anyone knows, it's a hot new loan-translation of German Ohrwurm, a "haunting melody."

One can be "haunted" in various ways.  The calque seems to run to the horrific end of the spectrum; "Jingle Bell Rock" is a good example for me.

JL



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