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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread UMAMI exposed, or, 99 Bottles of MSG on the Wall #156529 03/04/2006 1:31 AM Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 11,073 Likes: 2 Worcester, MA wofahulicodoc Carpal Tunnel wofahulicodoc Carpal Tunnel Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 11,073 Likes: 2 Worcester, MA It looks to me as if all the interested parties have been heard from, so here's the scoop: UMAMI might be ( -- barring clerical error in my part): a) the distaff side of an Imam's family -- submitted by consuelo -- chosen by Jackie b) Gullah word for soul -- submitted by TEd Remington -- chosen by Elizabeth Creith, AnnaStrophic, themilum and (with some cajoling) Alex Williams c) (chiefly veterinary) state of excitation or increased metabolism preceding labor -- submitted by Alex Williams d) a philosophical concept in Islam in which the parts of a whole are distinct and have their own complete being apart from the whole they compose -- submitted by Father Steve -- chosen by themilum at first, but he reconsidered e) a short shift, or wrap-around dress -- submitted by belMarduk -- chosen by Ted Remington f) African thumb piano made of 22 to 28 metal keys mounted on a hardwood soundboard; also known as mbira -- submitted by AnnaStrophic g) a cooked combination of ground mixed grains, made into small balls and dipped into sauces -- submitted by Elizabeth Creith -- chosen by belMarduk and WhitmanONeill h) the fifth fundamental taste, after sweet, sour, salty, and bitter, sometimes called “savory;” identified in 1908 by the Japanese scientist Kikunae Ikeda -- the real McCoy. -- chosen by Owlbow. See this link. I was surprised to learn it was that old! The paradigm of the taste is mono-sodium glutamate, marketed a while back as Ac’cent, and supposed to be the cause of what was in the late 1960s known as the “Chinese Restaurant syndrome.” i) adj. SW US dialect: vacant as the wind -- submitted by WhitmnONeill -- chosen by tsuwm, consuelo j) a West African dish made from lentils -- submitted by Jackie -- chosen by musick k) a style of West African headdress -- also submitted by Jackie and she changed it at my suggestion but I forgot to delete the original l) the box-like device worn in the small of the back by geishas when dressed full kimono and obi -- submitted by Faldage -- chosen by Father Steve and Bingley m) what the Ubangi answered when asked by an orangantangi the name of the only river that drains Lake Victoria in Ugandi -- submitted by themilum n) a deathbed promise to exact revenge -- submitted by musick o) Swahili word meaning "glorious" -- submitted by etaoin -- chosen by Faldage and etaoin A shibbloeth shattered, or at least battered: the real definition sounds like an armil (see TEd Remington’s comment) and it’s neither short nor dictionary-sounding. At least it’s trying not to be. Recognized in 1907! Imagine that! Ninety-nine years ago! edit: Oops, Only 98 years ago. 1908. [Sosumi-sound-effect] Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: UMAMI exposed, or, 99 Bottles of MSG on the Wall #156530 03/04/2006 2:28 AM Joined: Jul 2000 Posts: 3,467 Marion NC TEd Remington Carpal Tunnel TEd Remington Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jul 2000 Posts: 3,467 Marion NC Woohoo. Four votes. Best I've ever done. TEd Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: UMAMI exposed, etc #156531 03/04/2006 1:24 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 6,511 lower upstate New York AnnaStrophic Carpal Tunnel AnnaStrophic Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 6,511 lower upstate New York Congrats, TEd! I studied a little Gullah in a college course on creoles (a million years ago) and you still fooled me. Great word, Dr Woofy! I have heard of a fifth taste before but never associated it with that or any other name. Now we need a Japanese scholar to tell us what it means (err, "fifth taste"?). Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: UMAMI exposed, etc #156532 03/04/2006 1:43 PM Joined: May 2002 Posts: 1,529 Aladamnbama the most watered s... themilum veteran themilum veteran Joined: May 2002 Posts: 1,529 Aladamnbama the most watered s... Well if umami or monosodium glutamate is basic to our human tastebuds why did it take so long for humans (who eat every day) to distinquish the savor? I still think that a "umami" is something more inconsequential. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: UMAMI exposed, etc #156533 03/04/2006 6:41 PM Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,788 Seattle, Washington, USA Father Steve Carpal Tunnel Father Steve Carpal Tunnel Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,788 Seattle, Washington, USA There was an edifying discussion of this topic on the original television program "Iron Chef" -- the one shot in Japan, not the re-make mimic in the US of A. The commentator patiently explained that the Japanese, who have refined palates, are able to discern the fifth taste, while most Westerners, who have not such sophisticated palates, are not. Easy. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: UMAMI exposed, etc #156534 03/04/2006 10:05 PM Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,891 belMarduk Carpal Tunnel belMarduk Carpal Tunnel Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,891 Well, I was nearly a-flutter with excitement at finally getting someone to vote for my creation, but TEd burst my bubble by adding... I'm gonna guess E, for no reason other than that I need to vote. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: UMAMI exposed, etc #156535 03/05/2006 12:34 AM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Faldage Carpal Tunnel Faldage Carpal Tunnel Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 13,803 Well, I got Bingley's vote again and I consider that worth at least three normal votes. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: UMAMI exposed, etc #156536 03/05/2006 3:20 AM Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,788 Seattle, Washington, USA Father Steve Carpal Tunnel Father Steve Carpal Tunnel Joined: Sep 2000 Posts: 2,788 Seattle, Washington, USA Oh, yeah? Well, I got themilum's vote, at first, until he reconsidered, so that oughta be worth at least a half a point! Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: UMAMI exposed, etc #156537 03/05/2006 3:24 AM Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 2,636 Caribbean consuelo Carpal Tunnel consuelo Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 2,636 Caribbean As long as we're begging for points, I think the fact that tsuwm backed me on my choice should be worthless...for the day... Thanks for your vote, Jackie. [visions of Ali J'olson running through my brain-e] Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: number i) #156538 03/05/2006 4:11 AM Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass tsuwm Carpal Tunnel tsuwm Carpal Tunnel Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass . -joe vacant as the wind friday Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: number i) #156539 03/05/2006 4:25 AM Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 2,636 Caribbean consuelo Carpal Tunnel consuelo Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 2,636 Caribbean That's my point exactly! Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: number i) #156540 03/05/2006 8:33 PM Joined: Mar 2001 Posts: 4,189 Rio Grande, Cape May County, N... WhitmanO'Neill Carpal Tunnel WhitmanO'Neill Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2001 Posts: 4,189 Rio Grande, Cape May County, N... Thanks, tsuwm and conseulo...I almost had the most talked-about definition ever that was never voted for...phewww! [wiping-the-sweat-off-my-forehead-e] >>needs a word<< --tsuwm I'm deeply honored, sire. >>the poem link<< I never saw it, I swear! And who's the author, anyway? >>visions of Jolson<< --consuelo I PM'd wofa that I almost gave up and sent along "an Old Al Jolson song" just for the hell of it. "You ain't seen nothin', yet!" Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: number i) #156541 03/05/2006 9:47 PM Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 2,636 Caribbean consuelo Carpal Tunnel consuelo Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 2,636 Caribbean Quote: I'm deeply honored, sire. So, tsuwm's your daddy? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: UMAMI exposed, etc #156542 03/06/2006 2:19 AM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Jackie Carpal Tunnel Jackie Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Thanks for your vote, Jackie. You're welcome, Sweetie! I just really liked the way you had the word reversed, and I decided to put the u back with my u'r. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter umami in real life applications #156543 03/21/2006 4:15 AM Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 2,636 Caribbean consuelo Carpal Tunnel consuelo Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 2,636 Caribbean We have a new manager at work who was preparing for a training session in wines he was to conduct a few hours later. He said "Consuelo, do you know what umami means?' I said "I certainly do!" He was impressed. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Score one for the good guys #156544 03/22/2006 2:30 AM Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 11,073 Likes: 2 Worcester, MA wofahulicodoc Carpal Tunnel wofahulicodoc Carpal Tunnel Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 11,073 Likes: 2 Worcester, MA Heh, heh. 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