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> ETYMOLOGY. The name "Clamp" comes from a misspelling of the word "clump", meaning: "A bunch of potatoes". This is referenced in Duklyon: Clamp School Defender

> ETYMOLOGY. The name "Clamp" comes from a misspelling of the word "clump", meaning: "A bunch of potatoes". This is referenced in Duklyon: Clamp School Defenders, where a teacher is observed saying: "The name 'Clamp' incorporates the words 'hinge,' as well as 'potato mountain,' within its definition." That's just weird! (And foolish. And nonsensical...)

brigandish 6y ago
It's not so much a misspelling as a transliteration. Japanese lacks the ʌ vowel sound (or anything close) so ア/a is as close as you can get. Once that's turned back into the Latin alphabet (Romanji) it becomes clamp, hence the combined definition of clamp and clump given by the teacher, whose English teaching level is probably about standard for the Japanese school system (unfortunately).
Hamuko 6y ago
There's probably a whole host of Japanese names that come from misspellings. Two come to mind immediately: Mitsubishi Starion: officially "Star of Arion", but few people claim that it's just a misspelling of "Stallion", images of which were featured in some marketing materials. There's also the Mitsubishi Colt and Mitsubishi Eclipse which were given equine names. GLAY: Japanese rock band which supposedly intentionally misspelled their name although their former classmates claim that they just didn't know how to spell "gray".
- needle0 6y ago
  Similar stories in retro shmups: Gradius was obviously supposed to be Gladius, while R-TYPE was named with the intention of R standing for "Laser". Upon discovering laser is spelt with an L, the creators retconned the R to stand for "Round canopy", a trait of the ship in the game.
- Konohamaru 6y ago
  Eclipse is not an equine name?
  - Hamuko 6y ago
    https://jalopnik.com/holy-crap-the-mitsubishi-eclipse-was-named-for-a-horse-1798159207 https://jalopnik.com/holy-crap-the-mitsubishi-eclipse-was-na...

brigandish 6y ago

It's not so much a misspelling as a transliteration. Japanese lacks the ʌ vowel sound (or anything close) so ア/a is as close as you can get. Once that's turned back into the Latin alphabet (Romanji) it becomes clamp, hence the combined definition of clamp and clump given by the teacher, whose English teaching level is probably about standard for the Japanese school system (unfortunately).

Hamuko 6y ago

There's probably a whole host of Japanese names that come from misspellings. Two come to mind immediately: Mitsubishi Starion: officially "Star of Arion", but few people claim that it's just a misspelling of "Stallion", images of which were featured in some marketing materials. There's also the Mitsubishi Colt and Mitsubishi Eclipse which were given equine names. GLAY: Japanese rock band which supposedly intentionally misspelled their name although their former classmates claim that they just didn't know how to spell "gray".

needle0 6y ago
Similar stories in retro shmups: Gradius was obviously supposed to be Gladius, while R-TYPE was named with the intention of R standing for "Laser". Upon discovering laser is spelt with an L, the creators retconned the R to stand for "Round canopy", a trait of the ship in the game.
Konohamaru 6y ago
Eclipse is not an equine name?
- Hamuko 6y ago
  https://jalopnik.com/holy-crap-the-mitsubishi-eclipse-was-named-for-a-horse-1798159207 https://jalopnik.com/holy-crap-the-mitsubishi-eclipse-was-na...