Lampoon

[drsved]

Discussion happened from a summer solstice posting where in Poland many people released lampoons into the sky (they looked like little parachutes with lights in them). Lampoon as is usually used is a satire, usually negative, as to lampoon someone. This made it look like for this instance lampoon was something derived from lamp.

[Philip Hudson]

drsved: Thanks for jumping in with such interesting contributions. I think deriving lampoon from lamp might make a fun folk etymology. But I can find no basis for it in fact. Etymonline admits the etymology is not certain but some French etymologists think it comes from lampoons "let us drink."

[Slava]

I'm inclined to believe that lampoon as used here is probably an incorrect translation from the Polish. Then again, it might be a made-up word combining lamp and harpoon.