ANTONOMASIA

Antonomasia

Antonomasia (also called commonization) is a minor word formation process in which a proper name enters the language as a common noun, i.e. it ceases to be capitalized. For example, the common noun sideburns comes from the name of an American general Ambrase E. Burnsides who sported a set of side whiskers. Or

Antonomasia is process when a personal, a plce name or a broad name addaptes a new meaning ussually reffering to common noun related to the proper noun

Here are some more examples:

Ø  sandwich > Earl of Sandwich;

Ø  denim > serge de Nimes;

Ø   waterloo (final defeat) > Waterloo, place of Napoleon’s defeat;

Ø  cashmere > Cashmere-province in India;

Ø   limousine > Limousine-province in France;

Ø   boycott > English land agent in Ireland Charles C. Boycott who was ostracized for refusing to lower rents for his tenant farmers, etc.

Ø  Hoover ( proper noun)> vacum cleaner (common noun)

Ø  Xerox (pn)> photocopying machine (cn)

Ø  Pampers (pn)> diapers (cn)