The Reverend William Archibald Spooner (pictured) was born in London in 1844. He was an albino and suffered defective eyesight and it is thought that this caused some of his verbal confusions which are now called "spoonerisms".
Spooner, who died in 1930, was an Anglican priest and scholar. He studied at New College, Oxford, before lecturing there for 60 years in history, philosophy and divinity.
William Spooner’s most noted verbal confusion was when he raised a toast to Queen Victoria intending to say “let us raise our glasses to the dear old Queen” the words came out “let us glaze our asses to the queer old Dean.”
Other examples of Mr. spooner’s verbal confusions are "it is kisstomary to cuss the bride" (...customary to kiss the bride).
“We’ll have the hags flung out” (...flags hung out).
“Mardon me padam, this pie is occupewed. Can I sew you to another sheet?” (...Pardon me, madam, this pew is occupied. Can I show you to another seat?).
Many years ago as a 10-year-old I would laugh and say I was going to shake a tower prior to taking a shower without knowing the ‘play on words’ had a name - spoonerism.
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