low back merger

English

Noun

low back merger (plural low back mergers)

1. (phonology) The cot-caught merger.
   • 1994, William Labov, Principles of Linguistic Change, volume 3:

     The low back merger is one possible outcome of a series of triggering events outlined in Chapter 5, but it is itself the triggering event for a variety of further consequences for the English vowel system.