catastroscope

Confronted with such a word as "catastrophe," Durante runs amok and produces "catastroscope," which the late Robert Benchley argued was a great improvement. Even such a modest adjective as “exuberant” feels the edge of Durante’s scorn. It comes out “exubilant,” which is not only funny but more exuberant.

2000, "Catastroscope" Research & Development vol. 42 p. 13 →ISSN The 200th anniversary of the US in 1976 coincided with the sesquimillennial of the fall of Rome in 476 A.D. ... It apparently was what the late comedian Jimmy Durante might have said, " It's a catastroscope!"

2007, Max Sollitt, Catastroscopes: A Creative and Adventurous Australian Bloke's Battle with Clinical Depression and Anno Domini, (Melbourne : Temple House) →ISBN