Here is a famous example of a deliberate invention by mischievous or bored editors. "Zzxjoanw" is the last entry in Rupert Hughes’ Music Lovers’ Encyclopedia of 1903, and subsequent editions down to the 1950s, and claimed to be a Maori word for a drum. It was later proved to be a hoax (not least because there is no Z, X or J in the Maori language).
I like how the name "Joan" jumps out of this word.
Also I like the fact that it took a while for them to prove the word was a hoax - despite there being no z, x or j in Maori.
Here is a famous example of a deliberate invention by mischievous or bored editors. "Zzxjoanw" is the last entry in Rupert Hughes’ Music Lovers’ Encyclopedia of 1903, and subsequent editions down to the 1950s, and claimed to be a Maori word for a drum. It was later proved to be a hoax (not least because there is no Z, X or J in the Maori language).