Dundrearyism

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A Dundrearyism is an aphorism, proverb, colloquial phrase or riddle humorously combined with another in such a way to render it nonsensical. For example: "birds of a feather gather no moss."

The word comes Lord Dundreary, a character in the American stage play Our American Cousin who is prone to making such mistakes. The phrases were mildly popular when the play premiered in 1858, but are now largely forgotten. The play itself is mostly remembered for being the one that president Abraham Lincoln was attending when he was assassinated.