1. a verbal error in which a speaker accidentally transposes the initial sounds or letters of two or more words
Usage: linguistics; named after Reverend William Spooner

Examples

• The classic spoonerism ‘you have hissed my mystery lectures’ was meant to be ‘you have missed my history lectures.’
• She made a spoonerism when she said ‘fighting a liar’ instead of ‘lighting a fire.’
• The nervous speaker’s spoonerism turned ‘dear old queen’ into ‘queer old dean.’
• His spoonerism ‘is it kisstomary to cuss the bride?’ amused the wedding guests.
• The professor was famous for his spoonerisms during lectures.
• A spoonerism occurs when sounds are accidentally switched between words.