Fake etymology

A fake etymology, is an invented explanation (etymology) for the origin of a word. Many vulgar words in particular have been subject to such invented etymologies, most of which have very recent 20th century origins. Sometimes, these etymologies are then propagated through the culture by others, either because they were taken seriously by mistake, or simply because they enjoyed the joke and wanted to pass it along. Fake etymologies — constructed accounts of a word or phrase's history which are incorrect — should be distinguished from other kinds of false etymology such as folk etymology.

See also

• Backronym
• Folk etymology
• Okay
• Chinese Translation of Crisis