Word question: emcee

Factual Questions
1

I was thinking about history of the word “emcee”.

Started out as “Master of Ceremonies” and a familiar acronym developed “MC”.

This is a frequent process. But then we became so familiar with the acronym “MC” that we started to actually spell it out, “emcee.”

I’m probably being dense but I can’t think of any other words that went through that last step. Are there any other acronyms or abbreviations that we spell out the sound of the letters?

NOTE: mountain --> MT. --> empty does not count.

2

Old Kinderhook or Oll Korrect -> OK -> Okay

3

WAG:

roast beef -> RB -> Arby’s

4

Like emcee, “deejay”.

5

Eminem ? :slight_smile:

6

gigi! :wink:

7

OJ ?

8

So, deejay seems to be a legitimate example.

Arby’s probably is, but it is also somewhat artificial.

Haven’t seen any stories about the price of ohjay.

Isn’t there some question as to the validity of the old kinderhook/oll korrect --> ok theory?

9

As for “OK”, Cecil says…

10

This thread stinks - peeyew!

11

Teevee is also sometimes used, although it isn’t as snappy as the more common TV.

Jaycee as in Junior Chamber of Commerce.

Veejay (the video jockeys on MTV and VH-1)

And let’s not forget such familiar acronyms as snafu, fubar, and scuba.

12

Knock Out

First it wen’t to KO’ed (redundant), now it’s seen in print as kayoed. And yes, I did check.

Also Run(s) Batted In has become “Ribbie”.

13

Junior Varsity—>JV—>jayvee

14

Dubya?

:: ouch, stop pinching me! ::

15

effing (as in, David B has had enough of thread titles with that effing word)?

Larry Niven used “tanj” (there ain’t no justice), which I really like and wish would go into more general use.

16

Now that I review the thread, I realize that neither of my examples fits. :o

Right, carry on.

17

Arby’s is the abbreviation for (hold on to your hats):
American Roast Beef, Yes Sir!

Wait a minute. I always repeated that since I read it in the newspaper, without thinking. But being a member of the SDMB has taught me skepticism, so I decided to check at the Arby’s web site. Here’s what they have to say:

18

Re. the O.P. - surely acronyms are the ones where “we spell out the words of the letters” as opposed to abbreviations. I really don’t mean to be unfriendly here, but “MC” cannot be called an acronym. Surely not. :slight_smile:

19

Cool! My WAG was halfway right!