The genuine etymological story of phon(e)y

Conference item

The etymological source and history of English phon(e)y have been the subject of speculation and disagreement for over 100 years, and are controversial to this day. We can use what the three editions of the OED say about phon(e)y's etymology as a thumbnail sketch of the way views have changed over the decades. OED1 does not have an entry for the item in the main text, but the Supplement at the entry (labeled US) for phoney, phony has "Of uncertain origin; but see quot. 1904." This quotation, chronologically the second one given, folk-etymologically connects the word with telephone. OED2's entry for phoney, phony has an etymology of "of uncertain origin". Notably, it has removed the 1904 quotation from the citations and etymology. The earliest quotation remains the one from Ade used in OED1, with its date correctly revised to 1900. OED3 has a surprise in store: a much earlier quotation. It cites a leter from Confederate soldier Benjamin Moody, dated April 25, 1862. This early date obviously eliminates (tele)phone as an etymon, though it is still, remarkably, a widely-help folk etymology. However, there remain several viable candidates (from the OED and elsewhere) to examine, including connections with fawney 'a ring used in a confidence game' (probably from the Irish fáin(n)e 'ring') and the family name Forney. I will critically analyze the relevant data and literature (scholarly and popular), adduce new evidence, and advance a coherent theory to account for the data, including heretofore unexplained phonological aspects of the problem.

Authors: Cohen, P

• Alternative title: Presented at Researching Words 2 session
• Publication status: In press
• Peer review status: Reviewed (other)
• Edition: Author's Original
• Language: English
• Keywords: etymology; English
• Subjects: English Language and Literature