Definition of MONDEGREEN

mondegreen

Meanings

Plural: mondegreens

Noun

  • A form of (possibly intentional) error arising from mishearing a spoken or sung phrase, possibly in a different language.
  • A misunderstanding of a written or spoken phrase as a result of multiple definitions.

Origin / Etymology

Coined by American journalist and editor Sylvia Wright in 1954 in Harper's Magazine from mishearing a line in the Scottish ballad The Bonnie Earl o' Moray: “They have slain the Earl o' Moray, / And laid him on the green”, the second line being misheard as, “And Lady Mondegreen”.

Synonyms

mishearing

Scrabble Score: 14

mondegreen is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
mondegreen is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
mondegreen is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 18

mondegreen is a valid Words With Friends word