Verballhornung

It would be a "Verballhornung" to say that you are presently reading the "Wart of the Week." Substituting a similar sounding word for a humorous effect is generally called "Verballhornung" in German -- or malaproprism (or simply a pun) -- not that we find warts particularly comical afflictions, but you get the idea. The effect of "Verballhornung" is pictured to the left. The origin of the term, however, is not so humorous. It is attributed to 16th century printer Johann Ballhorn of Lübeck, who published a book of municipal law containing numerous mistakes that actually changed their meanings.