Wretch

Created by Unknown User (kmh28), last modified on Dec 01, 2008

(noun) Nickname for the Letchworth dining hall where "letch" is made "wretch"; implies that it is undesirable.

2008: Not defined as such unless given contextual clues; also referred to as "Wretchworth".

Source: Geneseo Dictionary 2006. JNorman.

Comments:

"Wretchworth" could qualify as a  portmanteau word if it were certain that this is a combination of "wretch" and "Letchworth." The word "wretch" by itself refers to a miserable person; but could there also be a homonymic overtone from the informal "rech" or "recch" ("to vomit")?If "t" is the original portmanteau word, then "wretch" (with the meaning explained in the definition) would be a clipping of "Wretchworth."

Posted by drake at Dec 18, 2020 13:11

Document generated by Confluence on May 22, 2023 12:37