Thrillmette

Origin:
thrill + Wilmette, Illinois = Thrillmette

Definition:
n. Wilmette, Illinois (used derogatorily or sarcastically)

Exemplum:
Taking her dog to the park, going to the gym and watching Flight of the Conchords reruns were often the highlights of Brooke's summer in Thrillmette.

Commentary:
A rousing tangent to the oxymoronic portmanteau is the place portmanteau, which on occasion combines a place name with a non-applicable word, as in Thrillmette. We're not meant to believe that sleepy little Wilmette is all that thrilling. Rather, the addition of such a strongly positive term like "thrill" reveals that addition as humor. Ha ha!

Although "thrill" is a common noun and needn't be capitalized in normal usage, we capitalize "Thrillmette" to reinforce this term as a city name, and by extension a proper noun.

"Thrill" is especially useful for these playful place names, as it rhymefully replaces the ubiquitous suffix "ville" to great comic effect. Other Chicagoland examples include Naperthrill, Warrenthrill and Elk Grove Thrillage, but the possibilities are nearly endless.

And "thrill" and "ville" represent but one opportunity for portmanteau place names. Chicagoland is also home to Elmhearse, Coke-brook, Lombored, Arlington Shites, Glen Smellyn, Palacrime and Hins-stale.

Request for Reader Participation
Please click below to post comments with your own place name portmanteaux.

Credit:
Brooke Randel (Thrillmette), Betsy Erickson (Naperthrill), Nate Winter (the rest)