H-dropping

Quick meaning: H-dropping is a noun meaning (phonology) The omission of an /h/ sound normally present in a word, making the word "home" sound like "'ome", for example.

Meaning

(phonology) The omission of an /h/ sound normally present in a word, making the word "home" sound like "'ome", for example.

More Meanings

1. Undergoing h-dropping.

Example Sentences

In England, the most up-to-date research suggests that some 13th-century dialects were h-dropping, but by the time elocution experts came along in the 18th century, they were pointing out what a crime it is.

More local than us, apparently; I find out that Janet complains that ‘John’s from Herefordshire but he’s not real Herefordshire.’ […] But if I’m honest, I know what she means: I don’t have an h-dropping local accent and speak instead in a detached RP rumble.

Apart from the two ‘default’ terms of guest-house and inn, they are all host- or harbour-related: hostry, host, hostel, hostelry, hostelar, host-house; harbergery, harbergage. (The initial h- was often omitted in the spelling, indicating the h'''-dropping character of contemporary pronunciation.)

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include psilosis, dehyphenation, h-prothesis, homeophone, hemming, homoeophone.

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