isms

[pat_perth]

What is it called when one drops one letter of a word to make another word as in "Father Xmas dropped his gits under the tree." instead of FX dropped his gifts under the tree?

[Anglika]

typo

[curmudgeon]

Either that or his 'little helpers' had been giving him a hard time

'git' = slang term for useless idiotic person

maybe a malapropism

[pat_perth]

Thanks curmudgeon, malapropism is probably what I wanted. A friend saw a calendar where every page had a dropped letter to make the picture funny. Not strictly accurate, the dropping of the letter in this case not being accidental.

[rewboss]

I just searched Google for the phrase "pubic accountant". I got nearly 2,000 embarrassing hits.

If there isn't a special word for this -- "malapropism" doesn't quite fit, but it's the closest fit I can think of -- there should be.

[curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by pat_perth

Thanks curmudgeon, malapropism is probably what I wanted. A friend saw a calendar where every page had a dropped letter to make the picture funny. Not strictly accurate, the dropping of the letter in this case not being accidental.

Hiya Pat, I'm a pat as well, i assume your old folk came from the emerald isle...

Here's a little ditty...


The Fields of Athenry


By a lonely prison wall
I heard a young girl calling
Michael they are taking you away
For you stole Trevelyn's corn
So the young might see the morn.
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay.

Low lie the Fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly.
Our love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely 'round the Fields of Athenry.

By a lonely prison wall
I heard a young man calling
Nothing matter Mary when your free,
Against the Famine and the Crown
I rebelled they ran me down
Now you must raise our child with dignity.

By a lonely harbour wall
She watched the last star falling
As that prison ship sailed out against the sky
Sure she'll wait and hope and pray
For her love in Botany Bay
It's so lonely 'round the Fields of Athenry

I don't think he ever made it back...