[Ads-l] Made up words

[Baker, John]

Are you only looking for words that were created for works of fiction and subsequently entered the language, either through extension (e.g., "jeep," a fairly remote extension) or because the thing described by the word is itself worthy of a dictionary entry (e.g., "quidditch")?  Or are you also looking for made-up words like "scofflaw" that were not created for works of fiction?


John Baker


-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of MULLINS, WILLIAM D (Bill) CIV USARMY RDECOM AMRDEC (US)
Sent: Monday, April 17, 2017 1:59 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Made up words

A forum I read noted this article:

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/quidditch-potterhead-could-make-their-way-into-oxford-english-dictionary-1616972

and commented on OED editor Charlotte Buxton's statement " It's fairly unusual for a made-up word to get in."

Strictly speaking, I suppose this is true.  But it does happen:

Kryptonite
Jabberwocky
Unobtanium
Jeep
Vulcan (in the sense referring to Spock)
Lilliput, Lilliputian
Brobdingnag, Brobdingnagian
Oz
Xanadu
Shangri La
Carbonite (Star Wars sense)
Impervium (from Buck Rogers)
Widget


Can you suggest others?

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