The Rice University Neologisms Database

Like or having the quality of a noun; nounal. Presumed reason for coinage There is a frequent need for an adjective to describe language bits similar to but not quite nouns in the study of linguistics, so linguists concocted NOUNY for use in meetings and lectures. There is a word "nounal" documented by the dictionaries to have the same meaning as NOUNY, but it does not be as popular, likely due to the awkwardness in pronunciation. There is also an endearing quality to words that end in a syllable pronounced long e, and many terms of endearment end in such (honey, sweetie, baby). NOUNY, therefore, may be more endearing than "nounal."