Mondegreens

[Rick Levy <radiowaves@CompuServe.COM>]

Dan Strassberg wrote:

>>The name mondegreen refers to a "quotation" from the lyric of an old
English folk song in which there is a reference to a "Lady Mondegreen". In
fact, the lyric refers to some hero who was shot "and they laid him on the
green" (where his lover threw herself on his body--it was a sad song).<<

(From one of the "classic ballads of the British Isles")
"They have slain the Earl of Murray and laid him on the green".

I never knew these figures of speech had a generic name, nor the
derivation.  How delightful.  Thank you, Dan.

rl   

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