This week’s theme
High-scoring words in Scrabble

This week’s words
chutzpah
quixotry
blowzy
quincunx
whizbang


This week’s comments
AWADmail 987

Next week’s theme
Gold

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(WHIZ-bang)

MEANING:

noun:	1. Someone or something extraordinarily successful.
	2. Someone or something flashy, impressive, technologically innovative, etc.
	3. A firework that makes whizzing sounds and loud bangs.
adjective:	1. Highly successful or talented.
	2. Flashy, impressive, fast-paced, loud, etc.

NOTES:

The term has its origin in the onomatopoeic representation of the sound made by a firearm or firework. It was popularized in WWI as high-speed shells were called whizbangs. It was also the name given to a rocket launcher used by the US Army during WWII.

ETYMOLOGY:

Of imitative origin. Earliest documented use: 1881.

USAGE:

“You told me that you have whizbang people in the Devanez family who can read minds and do all kinds of crap.”
Iris Johansen; The Perfect Witness; St. Martin’s; 2014.

“It was in fact a touch firmer over bumps -- despite being equipped with the optional whizbang suspension.”
Joshua Dowling; Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan; Sydney Morning Herald (Australia); Jun 29, 2019.

See more usage examples of whizbang in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: