portmanteau

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a new word formed by joining two others and combining their meanings
  2. noun a large travelling bag made of stiff leather

Etymology

From Middle French portemanteau (“coat stand”), from porte (“carries”, third-person singular present indicative of porter (“to carry”)) + manteau (“coat”), literally “[that which] carries coat”.

In classic literature

Synonyms

blend, portmanteau word

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