Tmesis

Tmesis (Greek, ?????? "a cutting") is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is inserted into another word, often for humorous effect. The insertion may occur between the parts of a compound word, of an infinitive (split infinitive), or between syllable boundaries (dystmesis).

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Also referred to as diacope, or tumbarumba; the latter due to the popularity of tmesis in Australian speech. Linguists sometimes describe tmesis as a form of infixing.

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Examples:

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• "what-place-soever"; note that "whatsoever" is itself an example of tmesis, being an insertion of "so" into "whatever"
• "I can't find it any-blooming-where" (see also expletive infixation)
• "how heinous e'er it be" (Shakespeare's tmesis of "however" in Richard II)
• "any-old-how" (parallel to "any old thing")
• "ri-goddamn-diculous"
• Perhaps the most famous example of tmesis employed within a proper name is the popular American expression of surprise or frustration: "Jesus H. Christ" For many years the British have used the similar "Christ All-bleeding-mighty".

Greek: The noun Greek refers to:...

Figure of speech: A figure of speech, sometimes termed a rhetorical figure or device, or elocution, is a word or phrase that departs from straightforward, literal language. Figures of speech are often used and crafted for emphasis, freshness of expression, or clarity. However, clarity may also suffer from their use....

Compound word: REDIRECT Compound (linguistics)...