old timer's disease en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (General-American) audio
- /ˌoʊl(d)ˌtaɪməɹz dəˈziz/ (General-American)
- /ˌəʊl(d)ˌtaɪməz dɪˈziːz/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
From old timer + -’s + disease, from the fact that the disease disproportionately affects older people, and because of the phonetic similarity between Alzheimer’s and old timer’s.
Meanings
- (derogatory, humorous, slang, sometimes, uncountable) Eggcorn of Alzheimer's disease (“a disorder involving loss of mental functions resulting from brain tissue changes”).
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| old timers' disease | alternative | lexicographic | |
| old-timers' disease | alternative | lexicographic | |
| old-timer's disease | alternative | lexicographic |