OSPD acronyms and portmanteaux

Here is a collection of acronyms and portmanteaux which have become so accepted as regular words in English as to have merited an entry in the OSPD (more precisely, its professional equivalent, the TWL06). Almost all the etymologies I give are verifiable either from MWCD10 or OED2. The list below is probably far from complete, but I have got this far based on input from many folks on the CGP mailing list. If you find more words that should make the list, please do contribute!

File last updated Thu Nov 25 13:25:53 EST 2010

ADMASS       = ADvertisement + MASS
ADVERTORIAL  = ADVERTisement + editORIAL
AGITPROP     = AGITation + PROPaganda
ALKOXY       = ALKyl + OXYgen
ALNICO       = alloy containing ALuminium, NIckel and CObalt
AMTRAC       = AMphibious TRACtor
AMTRACK      = AMphibious TRACKed vehicle (same thing as AMTRAC)
AMU          = Atomic Mass Unit
APYRASE      = Adenosine PYRophosphate + -ASE
ASDIC        = Allied (or anti) Submarine Detection Investigation Committee
ATHODYD      = Aero- + THermODYnamic Duct
AVGAS        = AViation GASoline
AVIGATOR     = AVIation + naviGATOR
AVIONICS     = AVIation electrONICS
AWOL         = Absent WithOut Leave
AZON         = AZimuth ONly
BALLUTE      = BALLoon + parachUTE
BEEFALO      = BEEF + buffALO
BEVATRON     = BeV (Billion Electron Volt) + synchroTRON
BINIT        = BINary + digIT
BIOPIC       = BIOgraphical PICture (movie)
BOATEL       = BOAt + hoTEL
BOHUNK       = BOhemian + HUN(K)garian
BORAL        = BORon carbide + ALuminum
BRUNCH       = BReakfast + lUNCH
BUMF         = BUM Fodder 
BUMPH        = variant of BUMF
BUPPIE       = Black + yUPPIE
CALPAIN      = CALmodulin + paPAIN
CALUTRON     = CALifornia University cycloTRON
CAMCORDER    = CAMera + reCORDER
CARBARYL     = CARBAmate + aRYL
CARJACK      = CAR + hiJACK
CATALO       = CATtle + buffALO
CATTALO      = CATTle + buffALO
CERAMAL      = CERAMic ALloy
CERMET       = CERamic + METal
CHORTLE      = CHuckLE + snORT
CHRISMON     = CHRIStus MONogramma (Late Latin for "Christ monogram")
CHUNNEL      = CHannel + tUNNEL
CIPHONY      = CIpher + telePHONY
COCKAPOO     = COCKer spaniel + POOdle
COCOMAT      = COCOnut + MAT
CODEC        = COder + DECoder
COMSYMP      = COMmunist SYMPathizer
CONELRAD     = CONtrol of ELectronic RADiation
CONTRAIL     = CONdensation + TRAIL
COYDOG       = hybrid between COYote and wild DOG
CREMAINS     = CREmated + reMAINS
CULTIVAR     = CULTIvated VARiety
CUSEC        = CUbic foot per SECond
CYBORG       = CYBernetic ORGanism
CYBRARIAN    = CYBer + libRARIAN
DEEJAY       = Disc Jockey
DIGERATI     = DIGital + litERATI
DIGOXIN      = DIGitalis + tOXIN
DRAMEDY      = DRAma + coMEDY
DURALUMIN    = DURus (Latin for "hard") + ALUMINum
EBONICS      = EBOny + phoNICS
EBOOK        = Electronic + BOOK
ECONOBOX     = ECONOmical BOX (= car)
ECOTAGE      = ECOlogical + saboTAGE
ELECTRET     = ELECTRicity + magnET
ELEVON       = ELEVator + ailerON
ELHI         = ELementary (school) + HIgh (school)
ELINT        = ELectronic INTeligence gathering
EMAIL        = Electronic MAIL
EMCEE        = Master of Ceremonies
EMOTICON     = EMOTion + ICON
EXCIMER      = EXCited + diMER
FANFIC       = FAN FICtion
FANTABULOUS  = FANTastic + fABULOUS
FANZINE      = FAN + magaZINE
FEDEX        = FEDeral EXpress
FEMINAZI     = FEMInist + NAZI
FERBAM       = FERric dimethyldithiocarBAMate
FIDO         = Freaks, Irregulars, Defects, Oddities
FLAK         = FLiegerAbwehrKanonen (German for "flier" + "defense" + "cannons")
FLEXTIME     = FLEXible + TIME (also: FLEXITIME)
FLIR         = Forward Looking InfraRed
FLOATEL      = FLOAt + hoTEL
FUBAR        = Fucked (or Fouled :-)) Up Beyond All Recognition
GALUMPH      = GALlop + triUMPH
GASELIER     = GASlight + chandELIER (also: GASALIER and GASOLIER)
GAYDAR       = GAY + raDAR
GESTAPO      = GEheime STAatsPOlizei (German for "secret state police")
GLITTERATI   = GLITTer + litERATI
GOMER        = Get Out of My Emergency Room
GOX          = Gaseous OXygen
GUESSTIMATE  = GUESs + eSTIMATE
GYRENE       = GI (altered spelling) + maRINE 
HAZMAT       = HAZardous MATerial
HELILIFT     = HELIcopter LIFT
HELIPAD      = HELIcopter PAD
HELIPORT     = HELIcopter + airPORT
HELISTOP     = HELIcopter + STOP
HUMVEE       = High Mobility Multi-purpose wheeled Vehicle (hummer for short)
IFF          = IF and only iF
INFOMERCIAL  = INFOrmation + comMERCIAL
JATO         = Jet Assisted Take Off
JAYGEE       = Junior Grade (?) military officer
JAYVEE       = a Junior Varsity player
JEEP         = G. P. (for General Purpose)
JEEPNEY      = JEEP + jitNEY
JUCO         = JUnior COllege
KAYO         = Knock Out
KBAR         = KiloBAR
KIDVID       = KIDdie VIDeo
KOLKHOZ      = KOLlektivnoe KHOZyaistvo (Russian for "collective farm")
KREEP        = a lunar basalt high in Kalium, Rare Earth Elements and Phosphorus
LACTAM       = LACTone + AMide
LAOGAI       = LAOdong GAIzao (Chinese for "labor" + "reform")
LASER        = Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
LIBLAB       = a supporter of a coalition of LIBeral and LABour groups
LIDAR        = LIght Detection And Ranging 
LIGER        = male LIon + female tiGER
LIMPSY       = LIMP + flimSY (also: LIMPSEY)
LINAC        = LINear ACcelerator
LINOCUT      = LINOleum + CUT
LINURON      = LINdane + URea + -ON
LORAN        = LOng RAnge Navigation
LOX          = Liquid OXygen
MAFIC        = MAgnesium + FerrIC
MAGALOG      = MAGAzine + cataLOG
MAGLEV       = MAGnetic LEVitation
MASCON       = MASs CONcentration (under some lunar maria)
MASER        = Microwave Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
MASSCULT     = MASS media CULTure 
MEDEVAC      = MEDical EVACuation by helicopter
MEDICAID     = MEDICal AID (government healthcare system)
MEDICARE     = MEDICal + cARE
MIDCULT      = MIDdle class CULTure
MINGY        = Mean + stINGY
MIPS         = Million Instructions Per Second
MODEM        = MOdulator-DEModulator
MOPED        = MOtor + PEDal
MOTEL        = MOtor + hoTEL
NAIRU        = Non-Accelerating Inflation Rate of Unemployment
NAVAID       = NAVigational AID
NAVAR        = NAVigation using radAR
NAVICERT     = NAVIs (latin for ship) + CERTification
NEGATRON     = NEGAtive + elecTRON
NETIZEN      = interNET + citIZEN
NEWSCAST     = NEWS + broadCAST
NICAD        = NIckel + CADmium
NITINOL      = NIckel + TItanium + Naval Ordnance Laboratory
NONCOM       = NON-COMmissioned (officer)
OCICAT       = OCelot + CAT
OFLAG        = OFfiziersLAGer (German)
OKAY         = Oll Korrect (facetious alteration of "all correct")
OVONIC       = OVshinsky (U.S. inventor) + electrONIC
PALIMONY     = PAL + alIMONY
PARADROP     = PARAchute + DROP
PARAKITE     = PARAchute + KITE
PARATHORMONE = PARATHyroid + hORMONE
PARSEC       = PARallax + SECond
PEDALFER     = PEDon (greek for ground) + ALuminium + FERrum
PEDOCAL      = PEDOn (greek for ground) + CALcium
PEEKAPOO     = PE(E)Kingese + POOdle (also: PEKEPOO)
PHREAK       = PHone + fREAK
PHYSED       = PHYSical EDucation
PIBAL        = PIlot BALloon
PICLORAM     = PIColinic acid + chLOR- + AMine
PIXEL        = PIX (picture) + ELement
PLENCH       = PLiers + wrENCH
POMO         = POst MOdern
POSITRON     = POSItive + elecTRON
PRION        = PROteinaceous + Infectious + -ON
PROBIT       = PROBability + unIT
PROPJET      = PROPeller + JET
PSYOPS       = PSYchological OPerationS
PSYWAR       = PSYchological WARfare
QUANGO       = QUAsi Non-Governmental Organization
QUASAR       = QUASi-stellAR
QUBIT        = QUantum + BIT
QUBYTE       = QUantum + BYTE
RACON        = RAdar + beaCON
RADAR        = RAdio Detection And Ranging
RADOME       = RADar + dOME
RADWASTE     = RADioactice WASTE
RATO         = Rocket Assisted Take Off
RAWIN        = RAdar based WINd measurement
REDOX        = REDuction + OXidation
REPO         = REPurchase Agreement
RIF          = Reduction In Force
RIFLIP       = Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism
ROADEO       = ROAd + roDEO
RURBAN       = RURal + urBAN
SCUBA        = Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus
SECOBARBITAL = SECOnal + BARBITAL
SECPAR       = one SECond of PARallax
SHAZAM       = Solomon Hercules Atlas Zeus Achilles Mercury
SHORAN       = SHort RAnge Navigation
SIAL         = SIlicon + ALuminium
SIMA         = SIlicon + MAgnesium
SINH         = SINe Hyperbolic
SITCOM       = SITuation COMedy
SKORT        = SKirt + shORTs
SKYJACK      = SKY + hiJACK
SLIMSY       = SLIM + flimSY (also: SLIMPSY)
SLURB        = SLum + subURB
SMAZE        = SMoke + hAZE
SMOG         = SMoke + fOG
SNAFU        = Situation Normal All Fucked (or Fouled :-)) Up
SOCA         = SOul + CAlypso
SOFAR        = SOund Fixing And Ranging
SOLIQUID     = SOLid + lIQUID
SOLUNAR      = SOLar + LUNAR
SONAR        = SOund Navigation and Ranging
SOVKHOZ      = SOVetskoe KHOZyaistvo (Russian for "soviet farm")
SPANSULE     = (time) SPAN + capSULE
SPLAKE       = SPeckled trout + LAKE trout
SPRADDLE     = SPRawl + strADDLE
SQUARK       = Supersymmetric QUARK
SQUIGGLE     = SQUirm + wriGGLE
STAGFLATION  = STAGnation + inFLATION
STALAG       = STAmmLAGer (German)
STOLPORT     = Short TakeOff & Landing airPORT
SYNCOM       = SYNchronous COMmunications satellite
SYNDET       = SYNthetic DETergent
SYNFUEL      = SYNthetic FUEL
SYNGAS       = SYNthesis GAS (mixture of CO and H2 used in chemical synthesis)
SYSOP        = SYStems OPerator 
TANGELO      = TANGerine + pomELO
TANKINI      = TANK top + bikINI
TANNOY       = TANtalum allOY
TAXICAB      = TAXImeter + CABriolet
TELCO        = TELephone COmpany
TELECAST     = TELEvision + broadCAST
TELETHON     = TELEvision + maraTHON
TELEX        = TELeprinter + EXchange
TELNET       = TELecommunication NETwork
TEVATRON     = TeV (Tera Electron Volt) + synchroTRON
TIGLON       = same as TIGON
TIGON        = male TIGer + female liON
TOKAMAK      = TOroidal'naya KAMera s AKsial'nym magnitnym polem (Russian for "toroidal chamber with an axial magnetic field")
TOONIE       = Two + lOONIE
TRANSCEIVER  = TRANSmitter + reCEIVER
TRIPTANE     = TRImethyl BuTANE (P substituted for B)
TRISHAW      = TRI- + rickSHAW
TROFFER      = TRough + cOFFER
TWOONIE      = TWo + lOONIE
UTILIDOR     = UTILity corrIDOR
VARISTOR     = VARiable resISTOR
VEEJAY       = Video Jockey
VEEP         = Vice President
VEEPEE       = Vice President
VIDICON      = VIDeo + ICONoscope
VITAMIN      = VITa + AMINe
WAITRON      = WAITer + -TRON
WARFARIN     = Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation + coumARIN
WAVICLE      = WAVe + partICLE
WILCO        = WILl COmply
YAG          = Yttrium Aluminium Garnet
YIPPIE       = Youth International Party + -IE
YUP          = Young Urban Professional (also: YUPPIE)
YUPPIE       = same as YUP
ZEBRASS      = ZEBRa + ASS
ZINEB        = ZINc Ethylene Bis-dithiocarbamate
If you find a word that deserves to be here, let me know. You'll have to manually enter my email address. Sorry I have to take this step to combat spam.


Back to Amit's Scrabble® page.