Eggcorn Forum

Google returns over 28,000 raw hits for this one, but there seem to be a lot of people out there using “hurrycane” as a nom de blog; the actual reshaping probably accounts for no more than a tiny fraction of that figure. “Hurricane” ultimately derives from a Carib word that Spanish writers transcribe as “furacan” or “huracan.” From the 16th through 19th centuries the word developed many spelling variants in English; the OED lists over 30, and a few of those look fairly eggcornish. Sir Walter Raleigh, for instance, uses “hurlecan” and “hurlecano” in his Discoverie of the Empyre of Guiana (1617), and the ability of hurricanes to hurl things has been all too obvious recently. “Harry-cain” and “herocane” are other forms that give off at least a whiff of eggcornishness. “Hurrycane” seems to me a pretty good candidate for true eggcorn status; the spelling looks like a clear allusion to the speed of hurricane winds. And interestingly, this spelling isn’t among the thirty-some listed in the OED, but it should be – the last two citations here are from 19th century texts. Examples:

Our Friday’s night Vigil was a great blessing. We remembered all the victims of hurrycane Katrina. Also we’ve prayed to remove the terrorism from the nations.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/user-posts?id=170352

Newest prediction shows that the hurrycane Rita turns north rather than the previous prediction of landing spot, which makes the Houston a possible disaster area.
http://disasterkatrina.blogspot.com/

My dear little Inu—this is Jeremy’s mom. I just wanted to thank you for your New Year’s wishes to Jeremy and the rest of his fambily (especially the wish for no more hurrycanes!—we’re still not finished fixing up after Charley).
http://www.greyhoundsreachthebeach.com/ … q=node/660

Due to the multiple disasters generated by the Mitch hurrycane in centralamerican territory , LA RED decided to support the Nicaraguan Civil Defense for the quick inventory of the hurrycane effects, institution that had been working previously with DesInventar.
http://www.desinventar.org/en/usuarios/ … ca/ni.html

A stormy day with a tremendous hurrycane from the W. ship lying too 1 AM Pointed the yards and got all ready for a hurrycane. lashed all taught even the bales 2 AM storm increasing with the sea running verry high every swell washing the deck.
http://www.schist.org/schs9804.html

Still on they went, overturning infantry and artillery alike, driving the enemy like the hurrycane scatters the leaves upon its course, capturing hundreds of prisoners and literally blackening the ground with dead.
http://wehaveneatstuff.com/jkletters6.htm