Spoonerism Definition

spo͝onə-rĭzəm
spoonerisms
noun
An unintentional or intentional interchange of sounds, usually initial sounds, in two or more words (Ex.: “a well-boiled icicle” for “a well-oiled bicycle”)
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Spoonerism

Noun

Singular:
spoonerism
Plural:
spoonerisms

Origin of Spoonerism

  • Named after the Reverend W. A. Spooner (1844-1930), who is supposed to have habitually made such slip-ups.

    From Wiktionary

  • After William Archibald Spooner (1844–1930), British cleric and scholar

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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spoonerism