Gainword
Full definition of gainword
Noun
gainword
(plural gainwords)- (linguistics, rare, in relation to the Maori language) A word that a language has borrowed from other languages. In the process, the spelling and pronunciation, and even meaning, may be altered.
- 1995, TP Duval, A preliminary dictionary of Maori gainwords compiled on historical principles, Words comprising a gainword + Maori suffix are entered as run-ons in alphabetical order where there is a root gainword as headword.