medal » metal
From Estel Telcontar in e-mail, 28 November 2004, from his brother at age 13:
A group that he is in recently won a medal, and in conversation with him, I discovered that he thought “medal” and “metal” were the same word, and that the award was so named because it was made of metal.
[One of a large number of cases that turn on intervocalic flapping and the neutralization of /t/ and /d/. Often this merely yields a non-standard spelling, but sometimes that spelling can be rationalized.]
Add your commentary
A (valid) e-mail address is required, but it will never be displayed or communicated to anyone without your consent. Comment moderation may be in place and delay posting of your commentary. Please don't re-submit it.
Separate paragraphs by blank lines. You can use the following HTML tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong> .
Please remember that comments on entries should add data or pertinent remarks.