acrophony

noun

acroph·​o·​ny

ə-ˈkrä-fə-nē,

a-

plural -es

1

: the application in the evolution of an alphabet of a pictorial symbol or hieroglyph for the name of an object to the initial sound alone of that name

2

: the naming of a letter by a word whose initial sound is the same as that which the letter represents

Word History

Etymology

acro- + -phony

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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