Vol. 10 · Portmanteaus ·Early 20th century ·1923
Popsicle
pop icicle
- Meaning
- A flavoured ice lolly on a stick.
- Source words
- pop + icicle
- Coined by
- Frank Epperson
- Year
- 1923
Background
Epperson accidentally invented the frozen treat as an 11-year-old in 1905 but patented and named it in 1923. Original name: *Epsicle* (Epperson + icicle); his children preferred *pop's sicle*, which won.
Early 20th century
Industrialisation generated new things that needed new names, fast. Motoring, electricity, telecommunications, and urban pollution all produced portmanteaus within a generation of their arrival.
Two words, one coinage.
Browse every portmanteau on the shelf — or cross over to the loanwords atlas.