Vol. 10 · Portmanteaus ·Mid-century: TV and science ·1960
Cockapoo
cocker spaniel poodle
- Meaning
- A designer dog crossbreed combining cocker spaniel and poodle.
- Source words
- cocker spaniel + poodle
- Coined by
- collective
- Year
- 1960
Background
The first documented designer-dog portmanteau, predating the labradoodle by nearly three decades. US breeders' clubs formalised the cross in 1999.
Mid-century: TV and science
Two engines dominated: television (sitcom, televangelist) and post-war big science (pulsar, transistor). Many mid-century coinages came from scientific style sheets and industry journals.
Two words, one coinage.
Browse every portmanteau on the shelf — or cross over to the loanwords atlas.