popsicle
UK[ˈpɒpsɪkl̩]US[ˈpɑːpsɪkl̩]
n
a piece of flavored ice or ice cream on a stick.
Morpheme Breakdown
pop
sicle
pop
soda
sicle
icicle
Etymology
the word "popsicle" is a 20th-century american invention, a classic example of a proprietary name that became generic. it is a blend of "pop," the colloquial term for soda, and "icicle," describing its frozen, tapering shape. the name directly reflects the original product concept: a frozen treat made from flavored soda water on a stick. its logic is transparent, combining the key elements of its composition (a sweet, carbonated drink) and its physical form (a frozen stick) into a catchy, child-friendly brand name that has endured in the lexicon.
Analysis
Structure: pop (soda) + sicle (icicle)
"pop" is an informal american english term for a sweet, carbonated beverage, derived from the sound of a cork popping. "sicle" is a clipped form of "icicle," a word of old english origin ("gicel") meaning a hanging, tapering piece of ice.
Examples
the child happily licked his cherry popsicle on the hot summer day.
she bought a box of assorted fruit-flavored popsicles from the grocery store.
after the game, the coach handed out popsicles to all the players.