Oleomargarine is what margarine was originally called, sometimes shortened to 'oleo'. This makes it one of a select few: words which can be broken into two words, so that each of the two and the original word are synonymous. That is: oleomargarine = oleo = margarine. Can you find another two English words that share this property?

taxicab = taxi = cab;

pussycat = pussy = cat.

bathtub = bath = tub

quagmire = quag = mire 

Posted by K Sengupta on 2007-04-14 13:20:03