rhotacism

[ roh-tuh-siz-uh m ]
/ ˈroʊ təˌsɪz əm /

noun

Historical Linguistics. a change of a speech sound, especially (s), to (r), as in the change from Old Latin lases to Latin lares.
excessive use of the sound (r), its misarticulation, or the substitution of another sound for it.

Origin of rhotacism

1825–35; < Greek rhô rho + (io)tacism

OTHER WORDS FROM rhotacism

rho·ta·cis·tic, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for rhotacism

rhotacism
/ (ˈrəʊtəˌsɪzəm) /

noun phonetics

excessive use or idiosyncratic pronunciation of r

Derived forms of rhotacism

rhotacist, noun rhotacistic, adjective

Word Origin for rhotacism

C19: from New Latin rhōtacismus, from Greek rhōtakizein (verb) from the letter rho