English
maplewash
From maple + -wash / ˈmā-pəl-ˌwȯsh / From the Canadian maple leaf as a national emblem.
Formed from maple + -wash
Proto-Germanic *mapulaz
Proto-West Germanic *mapul ‘maple tree’
Old English *mapul
Middle English mapel ‘tree of species Acer campestre, sole native…’
English maple
The story
Formed on the pattern of greenwash and whitewash. Earliest known attestations date from 2016; the coinage is commonly, but not conclusively, attributed to Canadian writer Luke Savage.
Today it means
verb the misleading use of Canadian symbols, claims, or associations to exaggerate the Canadian origin, ownership, content, or character of a product, business, or service.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / maplewash