Late 16th century; earliest use found in Andrew Willet (d. 1621), Church of England clergyman and religious controversialist. From French paronomasie paronomasia.
Definition of paronomasy in US English:
paronomasy
noun
Rhetoric
Paronomasia.
Origin
Late 16th century; earliest use found in Andrew Willet (d. 1621), Church of England clergyman and religious controversialist. From French paronomasie paronomasia.