FRANKENSTEIN

PRONUNCIATION: (FRANG-kuhn-styn)

MEANING:
noun:
1. A creation that gets out of control and brings harm to its creator.
2. One who creates something that brings ruin to himself.
3. A monster having human appearance.

ETYMOLOGY: After Victor Frankenstein, who creates a monster from parts of corpses in Mary Shelley's 1818 novel, Frankenstein. Earliest documented use: 1827.

NOTES: In the story, Frankenstein was the creator, not the monster. We should be calling the creation "Frankenstein's monster", but it's out of the control of the novelist now, and the monster itself is called Frankenstein. The prefix franken- has been coined as an uncomplimentary moniker for artificially created things. For example, genetically-modified foods are often called frankenfoods (see frankenfish).

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FRANK 'N STEIN - name for a hot-dog-and-beer joint. They do a monstrous business.

(Not very subtle, I'm afraid. I wouldn't be surprised to find there actually is one. Or several, for that matter.)