Portmanteau Words From Washington Post Readers In 2002

A selection of a few Honorable Mention entries from a 2002 Washington Post contest that asked the reader to coin "portmanteau words" by combining two words that overlap by two letters or more:

Muslimbaugh: Islam's really conservative branch. (Frank Mullen III, Aledo, Ill.)

Abracadabacus: What magic bean counters use. (Seth Brown, Williamstown, Mass.)

Baseballoon: A coach who has "put on a few pounds" since playing in the outfield. (Toby Gottfried, Santa Ana, Calif.)

Begetcetera: Multiple births. (Tom Witte, Gaithersburg)

Brassiereprimand: "Hey, my face is up here." (G.T. Bowman, Falls Church)

Coleslawsuit: Legal action taken without a shred of evidence. (Stephen Dudzik, Olney)

Communiqueserasera: An unimportant message. (Chuck Smith, Woodbridge)

Courtshipwreck: A dating error so disastrous it ends a relationship. Example: Sleeping with her sister. (Mel Loftus, Holmen, Wis.)

Ethiccup: A brief, involuntary suspension of one's moral principles. (Chris Doyle, Forsyth, Mo.)

Foxymoron: A perfect 10 in looks and IQ. (Milo Sauer, Fairfax)

Frigidiot: Those shirtless guys at January football games. (Jimmy LaCaria, Watertown, N.Y.)

Hemperor: A drug kingpin. (Tom Witte, Gaithersburg)

Internetherworld: Where failed dot-coms go. (Stephen Dudzik, Olney)

Kimchihuahua: Asian food made with secret special ingredients. (Stephen Dudzik, Olney)

Leotarp: Plus-size workout wear. (Milo Sauer, Fairfax)

Moulin Rouget's Thesaurus: A compendium of related words about truth, beauty, freedom but, above all, love. (David E. Romm, Minneapolis)

Necromantic: When you slip a ring on your lover's hand, then sacrifice a chicken so she can rise again and dance joyously with you to celebrate your eternal life together. (Beth Baniszewski, Cambridge, Mass.)

Penultimatum: I'm going to tell you this only one more time after this . . . (Dot Yufer, Newton, W. Va.)

Pestivate: To spend the summer sponging off relatives. (Mel Loftus, Holmen, Wis.)

Prostituition: A whorrible way to pay for college. (Seth Brown, Williamstown, Mass.)

Pseudonymphomaniac: Mrs. John Smith (Chris Doyle, Forsyth, Mo.)

Punditto: Talking heads who keep agreeing with each other. (Joseph Romm, Washington)

Shagrin: Regret regarding whom one has just awakened next to. (Tom Witte, Gaithersburg)

Trepanache: The ability to keep your head when someone is trying to drill holes in it. (Chuck Smith, Woodbridge)

Vivacuous: Describing a cheerleader. (John R. Shea, Philadelphia)

Zeppelingerie: Undergarments for the full-figured frau. (Frank Mullen III, Aledo, Ill.)