A word for a word that's fun to say?

Bethany K. Dumas dumasb at UTKUX.UTCC.UTK.EDU
Thu Apr 6 20:22:04 UTC 2006


Is there a term for a neologism that had a limited, specific life in a
very particular context, was more than a nonce term, but has probably
never been used again? The term I am thinking of was used by my younger
sister and me when I was a child. My parents may have heard it, but almost
certainly did not remember it. One parent is dead now, and I am certain
that the other has no memory of it. My sister is also dead, so I am the
only one, so far as I know, who remembers it. I suppose it dies with me!
I wonder how many words there are like that?

Bethany

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org



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