terms for words

[Dave Wilton]

>What is the technical name for a word such as "gaydar?"

It's a portmanteau or blend.

> Also, for a word that is formed from the first syllable of two
> words, is there a technical name?

It's an acronym. Acronyms are not restricted to the first letter. Many of
the definitions use the term "initial element," which includes the first
letter, the first several letters, and the first syllable. I don't know
about earliest, but many military acronyms are based, at least in part, on
initial syllables: SACEUR, Supreme Allied Commander EURope; NORAD, NORth
American Air Defense command; PACAF, PACific Air Forces, etc.

--Dave Wilton
  dave at wilton.net
  http://www.wilton.net