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Named for William Archibald Spooner (22 July 1844 - 29 August 1930) Although a brilliant scholar, Spooner was known for his unwitting ability to transpose letters in words, giving a phrase a whole new meaning. Some of his more memorable utterances include:

During a toast to Her Highness Victoria: "Three cheers for our queer old dean!"

During World War 1: "When our boys come home from France, we will have the hags flung out."

At chapel: "Our Lord is a shoving leopard."

To a stranger sitting in the wrong place: "I believe you're occupewing my pie. May I sew you to another sheet?"

To a Dean's secretary: "Is the bean dizzy?"

When announcing the hymn 'Conquering Kings': "Kinkering Congs Their Titles Tale."

Commenting on a naval display: "This vast display of cattle ships and bruisers."

Officiating at a wedding: "It is kisstomary to cuss the bride."

The word "spoonerism" began appearing in popular use as early as 1885. Once when a group of students gathered outside his window, calling for him to make a speech, he replied: "You don't want to hear a speech: you just want me to say one of those... things."

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Related Questions

What part of speech is the word spoonerism?

The word spoonerism is a singular noun. The plural form is spoonerisms.


What is the term for transposing letters of words when speaking?

Spoonerism is the unintentional exchange of letters or syllables between two words or even within a word. The word derives from a 19th Century Clergyman. Also Metathesis is the reversal of letters within a word.


What is dain bramage?

Slang/spoonerism for "brain damage" A "spoonerism" is attributed to Rev. William Archibald Spooner; 1900: http://everything2.com/title/Spoonerism ;)


Which category does spoonerism belong in?

what word category does spoonerism belong to


Where does the word spoonerism belong?

Spoonerism belongs to the category of wordplay involving the swapping of the initial sounds of two words to create a humorous or nonsensical result. It is a type of linguistic error named after Reverend William Archibald Spooner.


What is it called when you get together change the first and last letters of seed?

When you change the first and last letters of a word, it is called a spoonerism.


What category does the word spoonerism belong?

Spoonerism belongs to the category of speech errors or linguistic play where sounds within words are swapped to create a humorous or mistaken result. It is a particular type of wordplay named after Reverend William Archibald Spooner, known for making such mistakes.


What does it mean when one makes a spoonerism?

What it means when you speak a spoonerism is you are changing the letters around in the sentence to make light of a subject or when you are making a mistake.


If you speak too quickly might you utter spoonerism?

Spoonerism is a mistake in a person's speech where vowels, consonants, and morphemes are switched. These are often heard as slips of the tongue.


What is called when you mix up letters?

a spoonerism


Is runny babbit an example of a malapropism?

No, it is an example of a spoonerism. A spoonerism is the exchanging of the initial consonants of a pair of words, or the transferring of the initial consonant(s) of one word to the other word. Bunny rabbit/runny babbit. Well-oiled bicycle/well-boiled icicle. Down train/town drain. Crushing blow/blushing crow. Half-formed wish/half-warmed fish.


What is it called when you switch words or letters around when you are speaking?

A spoonerism!