portmanteau
[ pawrt-man-toh, pohrt-; pawrt-man-toh, pohrt- ]
/ pɔrtˈmæn toʊ, poʊrt-; ˌpɔrt mænˈtoʊ, ˌpoʊrt- /
noun, plural port·man·teaus, port·man·teaux [pawrt-man-tohz, -toh, pohrt-; pawrt-man-tohz, -toh, pohrt-] /pɔrtˈmæn toʊz, -toʊ, poʊrt-; ˌpɔrt mænˈtoʊz, -ˈtoʊ, ˌpoʊrt-/. Chiefly British.
a case or bag to carry clothing in while traveling, especially a leather trunk or suitcase that opens into two halves.
Also called portmanteau word. Linguistics.
blend(def 10).
Words nearby portmanteau
portière,
portland,
portland cement,
portlaoise,
portly,
portmanteau,
portmanteau morph,
portmanteau word,
portnet,
porto,
porto alegre
British Dictionary definitions for portmanteau word (1 of 2)
Word Origin for portmanteau word
C19: from the idea that two meanings are packed into one word
British Dictionary definitions for portmanteau word (2 of 2)
portmanteau
/ (pɔːtˈmæntəʊ) /
noun plural -teaus or -teaux (-təʊz)
(formerly) a large travelling case made of stiff leather, esp one hinged at the back so as to open out into two compartments
(modifier)
embodying several uses or qualities
the heroine is a portmanteau figure of all the virtues
Word Origin for portmanteau
C16: from French: cloak carrier, from
porter to carry +
manteau cloak,
mantle