old timer's disease

See also: old-timer's disease, old-timers' disease, and old timers' disease

English

WOTD – 20 September 2023

Etymology

From old timer +‎ -’s +‎ disease, from the fact that the disease disproportionately affects older people, and because of the phonetic similarity between Alzheimer’s and old timer’s.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌəʊl(d)ˌtaɪməz dɪˈziːz/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌoʊl(d)ˌtaɪməɹz dəˈziz/

• Audio (General American):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iːz
• Hyphenation: old tim‧er's dis‧ease

Noun

old timer's disease (uncountable)

1. (neurology, pathology, slang, sometimes derogatory or humorous) Eggcorn of Alzheimer's disease (“a disorder involving loss of mental functions resulting from brain tissue changes”).

Alternative forms

• old-timer's disease, old-timers' disease, old timers' disease

Related terms

• old folks' home

Translations

eggcorn of Alzheimer's disease — see Alzheimer's disease

Further reading

• Alzheimer's disease on Wikipedia.Wikipedia