The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll through the Hidden Connections of the English Language

Clipping

When a phrase like mobile vulgatus or mobile peasants gets shortened to mob, linguists call it clipping. And there are more clips around than you might think:

Taxi cab = Taximeter cabriolet

Fan = Fanatic

Bus = Voiture omnibus

Wilco = Will comply

Van = Caravan

Sleuth = Sleuthhound (a kind of sniffer dog)

Butch = Butcher

Cute = Acute

Sperm whale = Spermaceti whale

Film buff = Buffalo