- Change in the pronunciation of the word prickly, meaning “[o]f an animal, plant, object, surface, etc.: having or bearing prickles; full of or covered with prickles, or prickle-like projections” (“prickly”), to denote its new meaning and similar status to the word prickly. This nonce word developed into a more-commonly used word within the user’s family and has only recently breached into use by friends of the family. Since stubble is a prickle-like projection, it is considered prickly. The shift from prickly to porkly is likely because “por” is more easily pronounced than “pri.” This term developed due to the fact that, as a toddler, I often made up words in place of words I did not know or were unable to pronounce. This is likely because the sound “r” is a liquid in the English language, which makes it often difficult for young children to pronounce.
Porkly
adjective Creative Respelling
It describes something whose texture is located in the liminal state between those of prickly and stubbly; it is most often used in relation to body or facial hair that is unshaven.
Etymology : This is a creative respelling formed from the word prickly.
Source : “Yes, I had to shave my mustache because you thought it was too porkly when you were a baby” (Family word originated circa 2002, most recently heard 5 September 2019 in conversation with my father.)
Last modified: 6 December 2019