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TAMMANY
PRONUNCIATION: (TAM-uh-nee)
MEANING: adjective: Relating to political corruption.
ETYMOLOGY: After Tammany Hall in New York City, former home of the New York County Democratic Party, which was known for corruption. Earliest documented use: 1872.
NOTES: Tamanend or Tammany was a wise and peaceful Delaware Indian chief who became known as the “patron saint” of America. Many social clubs and societies were named after him. Tammany Hall in New York was one such place that evolved into a political machine notorious for its corruption. It was active from 1789-1967.
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TAMPANY - kettle drums (past tense)
TARMANY - like Br'er Fox's trap for Br'er Rabbit, after he grew up
YAMMANY - a whole lot of sweet potatoes
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GRAND GUIGNOL
PRONUNCIATION: (grahn gee-NYOL) [the first syllable is nasal]
MEANING: noun: An event, entertainment, etc., of a sensational or horrific nature.
adjective: Gruesome, grotesque, or horrifying.
ETYMOLOGY: From Le Grand Guignol (literally, The Great Puppet), a theater in Paris that specialized in such entertainment. Earliest documented use: 1905.
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GARAND GUIGNOL - puppet with a semi-automatic rifle
RAND GUIGNOL - a think-tank for French theater
GLAND GUIGNOL - puppet shows with horminal themes
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BASTILLE
PRONUNCIATION: (ba-STEEL)
MEANING: noun: A prison.
ETYMOLOGY: After Bastille, a fortress in Paris, that was used to hold prisoners. From Old French bastille (fortress), alteration of bastide, from Old Provençal bastir (to build). Earliest documented use: 1400.
NOTES: Bastille (French pronunciation: bas-TEE-yuh) was built in the 14th century and stormed on Jul 14, 1789, marking the beginning of the revolution. The anniversary (Bastille Day) is celebrated as a national holiday in France.
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BAST ISLE - spot of land in the Nile, populated by cats
BESTELLE - favorite girl friend
BAS-TILLER - the below-deck rod for turning the rudder
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HAWTHORNE EFFECT
PRONUNCIATION: (HAW-thorn i-FEKT)
MEANING: noun: An improvement in workers’ performance attributed to the special attention they received when singled out for a study.
ETYMOLOGY: After Hawthorne Works, a factory complex of the Western Electric Company, where this effect was observed. The complex was named after the original name of the town where it was located. Earliest documented use: 1958.
NOTES: In the 1920s, researchers studying a group of workers at the Hawthorne Works of the Western Electric Company in Cicero, Illinois, observed something peculiar. They found that the productivity increased irrespective of the change in the direction of a variable. For example, the performance improved under brighter lights, but also when the lighting level was reduced. The researchers attributed this phenomenon to the workers’ perception that they were being given some attention. The very realization of being singled out for study motivated them to perform better.
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NAWT-HORNE EFFECT - honking in traffic accomplishes nothing
HAW! TH'ORNE EFFECT - when the French river overflow its banks it's simply laughable
HAST HORNE EFFECT - being able to go "beep-beep" makes a driver more aggressive (but see NAWT-HORNE EFFECT)
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QUOTENNIAL
PRONUNCIATION: (kwo-TEN-ee-uhl)
MEANING: adjective: Yearly.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin quot (how many) + annus (year). Earliest documented use: 1878. A related word is quotidian (happening every day; commonplace).
USAGE: “The Dallas Cowboys defense has been a point of contention with fans over the past few years.”
Daniel Ruppert; Dallas Cowboys: Quality vs Quantity, the Quotennial Question; FanSided; Feb 14, 2017.
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DUOTENNIAL - twentyful
QUOTERNIAL - attributed to William R. Hamilton the system of imaginary numbers i, j, k with the properties ij=k, jk=i, ki=j, and i^2 = j^2 = k^2 = -1
QUITENNIAL - my yearly attempt to stop
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PHILOCYNIC
PRONUNCIATION: (fil-oh-SIN-ik)
MEANING: noun: A dog lover.
adjective: Fond of dogs.
ETYMOLOGY: From Greek philo- (loving) + kyon (dog). Ultimately from the Indo-European root kwon- (dog), which is also the source of canine, chenille (from French chenille: caterpillar, literally, little dog), kennel, canary, hound, dachshund, corgi, cynosure, and cynic. Earliest documented use: 1830.
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PHILOCYGNIC - noun: a lover of baby swans
PHYLOCYNIC - skeptical about classification systems
PHILO CYNIC - a fictional detective who believed that people are motivated purely by self-interest rather than rather than for honorable or unselfish reasons; written by S S van Dyne and popular in the 1920s and 30s.
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OBVIATE
PRONUNCIATION: (OB-vee-ayt)
MEANING: verb tr.: To render unnecessary; to remove, avoid, or prevent.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin obviare (to act contrary), from ob- (against) + via (way). Ultimately from the Indo-European root wegh- (to go or to transport), which also gave us pervious, ochlophobia (a fear of crowds), and ochlocracy (mob rule). Earliest documented use: 1567.
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OBVIGATE - a blatant, even conspicuous political scandal
OBI-ANTE - Ben Kenobe threw in a chip to start the next pot
OB VIA TEN - the obstetrician drove through on I-10
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MAMAGUY
PRONUNCIATION: (MA-muh-gai)
MEANING: verb tr.: To tease or deceive, especially by flattery.
noun: An instance of this.
ETYMOLOGY: From Spanish mamar gallo (to suckle a rooster).
NOTES: The word has nothing to do with a mama or a guy. It is from Caribbean English, especially from Trinidad. It has its origins in cock-fighting, apparently referring to a rooster who is gently sucking at his opponent instead of pecking him with force.
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GAMAGUY - the male of the third class in Orwell's Brave New World, after the alphas and the betas
MAMAGUM - Bloody Mary occasionally chews something besides betel nuts
MATAGUY - What I did in a bar. He said he's a bullfighter, Escami-something.
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DIPLOMATICS
PRONUNCIATION: (dip-luh-MAT-iks)
MEANING: noun: The study of documents, especially historical documents, in an effort to authenticate, date, interpret, etc.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin diploma (a letter of recommendation or an official document), from Greek diploma (a folded paper). Ultimately from the Indo-European root dwo- (two) that also gave us dual, double, doubt, diploma (literally, folded in two), twin, between, redoubtable, dubiety, diplopia, and didymous. Earliest documented use: 1808.
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Variations on a Theme:
DIPLOMAT ICE - must be broken before the negotiations can begin
DUPLOMATICS - statesmanship by liars, who speak with with forked tongue
BIPLOMATICS - wordless statesmanship (ask Marcel Marceau how it's done)
DIPLOMATTICS - meetings are held upstairs in the garret
DIPLOMATINS - and they start first thing in the morning
DOPLOMATICS - the ambassador is an idiot
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MISERICORD
PRONUNCIATION: (mi/muh-ZER-i-kord)
MEANING: noun:
1. Compassion, pity, or mercy.
2. Something to provide support to a standing person.
3. A place where rules are relaxed.
4. A dagger used to deliver the death stroke to a seriously wounded person.
ETYMOLOGY: From Old French misericorde, from Latin misericordia (pity or mercy), from misereri (to pity) + cor (heart). Ultimately from the Indo-European root kerd- (heart), which also gave us cardiac, cordial, courage, concord, cordate, accord, discord, record, and recreant. Earliest documented use: 1230.
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MISER IS ORD - the administration at O'Hare Airport won't spend a penny on improvements
MISS R.I. - C OR D? - Is it the third or the fourth contestant who lives in Newport?
MISER I CARD - proof that I'm a first-class cheapskate
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CONTRAFACTUM
PRONUNCIATION: (KON-truh-fak-tuhm)
MEANING: noun: A composition that makes use of an existing piece of music with different lyrics.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin contrafacere (to counterfeit), from contra- (against) + facere (to make or do). Earliest documented use: 1940.
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CONTRACACTUM - this spiny desert plant has it in for me...
CONTRAFACETUM - the side of a gemstone diametrically opposite to the one under consideration
COINTRAFACTUM - a bootleg orange-flavored after-dinner liqueur
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AKRASIA
PRONUNCIATION: (uh-KRAY-zh/zhee-uh)
MEANING: noun: The lack of will or self-control resulting in one acting against one’s better judgment.
ETYMOLOGY: From Greek akretes (powerless), from a- (without) + kratos (power, strength). Earliest documented use: 1806. The adjective form is akratic.
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ASK RASIA - Rasia? Who's "Rasia?
A.K.A. "RASIA" - nickname for Rasella
O.K., RASIA - I'm satisfied with your answer
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AQUABIB
PRONUNCIATION: (AK-wuh-bib)
MEANING: noun:
1. A water-drinker.
2. A teetotaler.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin aqua (water) + bibere (to drink). Ultimately from the Indo-European root poi- (to drink), which also gave us potion, poison, potable, beverage, bibulous, bibacious, and Sanskrit paatram (pot). Earliest documented use: 1731.
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AQUAVIB - whale or dolphin undersea communications
AQUABIC - a European ballpoint pen that writes under water
AQUA-BNB - tourist lodgings in Atlantis
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EIDOLON
PRONUNCIATION: (eye-DOH-luhn)
MEANING: noun:
1. An idealized form.
2. A phantom.
ETYMOLOGY: From Greek eidos (form, idea), ultimately from the Indo-European root weid- (to see), which also gave us wise, view, supervise, wit, eidos, and eidetic. Earliest recorded use: 1828.
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IDOL ON - when you worship your car so much you can't bear to get inside it, even to turn off the ignition, so that it just stands there with the motor running
EID COLON - the little-known Arabic Festival of the Large Intestine, sometimes loosely (but erroneously) translated as Evacuation Day
EPIDOLON - located just above the dolon
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VERIGREEN
PRONUNCIATION: (VER-i-green)
MEANING: noun: A simple or gullible person.
ETYMOLOGY: From very, from Old French verai (true), from Latin verus (true) + green (immature, naive, etc.). Earliest documented use: 1954.
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VERIGREN - plural of verig
VERYGREEN - bright light of 3800 Ångstrom units wavelength
VEROGREEN - putting surface in a Florida golf course
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RAFFISH
PRONUNCIATION: (RAF-ish)
MEANING: adjective:
1. Vulgar or tawdry.
2. Unconventional; carefree; rakish.L
ETYMOLOGY: From raff (rubbish), also the source of riffraff. Earliest documented use: 1795.
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RAWFISH - what sushi is made from
LAFFISH - humorous, sort of
CRAFFISH - small crustacean that crawls on the bottom of a pond
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CLAMANT
PRONUNCIATION: (KLAY-mant, KLAM-uhnt)
MEANING: adjective:
1. Loud.
2. Demanding attention; urgent.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin clamare (to cry out). Earliest documented use: 1639.
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CLAY ANT - a pre-Columbian scarab in the form of a six-legged insect
UCLA, MA, NT - the Bruins in Los Angeles have a New Technology, Mother
CALAMANT - squidlike
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DRAGGLETAILED
PRONUNCIATION: (DRAG-uhl-tayld)
MEANING: adjective: Dirty or untidy.
ETYMOLOGY: From draggle (to trail on the ground or in mud, etc.) + tail. Earliest documented use: 1654.
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DRAGGLE-FAILED - cross-dressing event didn't work out very well...
DRANGLE-TAILED - lots of anguish and self-searching at the end of the œuvre
DRAGLET AILED - young Saphira was ill (see Eragon)
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FAITOUR
PRONUNCIATION: (FAY-tuhr)
MEANING: noun: A cheat or impostor.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin factor (maker, doer, perpetrator), from facere (to make or to do). Earliest documented use: 1340.
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FATTOUR - visit to the lard factory
FASTOUR - driver's view of the Indianapolis Speedway
FAITHOUR - the 23rd Psalm, condensed to a single word
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CONSTITUTIONAL
PRONUNCIATION: (kon-sti-TOO/TYOO-shuh-nuhl)
MEANING: noun: A walk taken for one’s health.
adj.: 1. Relating to the constitution, a set of principles governing a state, organization, etc.
2. Relating to someone’s physical or mental condition.
3. Relating to the fundamental makeup of something or someone; essential.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin con- (together) + statuere (to set up). Earliest documented use: 1682.
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CONSTITUTION ALB - the white garment worn when handling an old precious document
CONSTITUITIONAL - the cost of higher education does not rise
C'MONSTITUTIONAL - Let's go for a walk together!
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COMMENSURATE
PRONUNCIATION: (kuh-MEN-suh-ruht)
MEANING: adjective:
1. Proportionate.
2. Having the same measure.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin com- (with) + past participle of mensurare (to measure). Earliest documented use: 1641.
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COMPENSURATE - measure your salary
COM MEN SURE ATE - the radio men had a feast
COMMENSTRATE - oh, say, a 6-7-8-9-10 hand
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DIALECTIC
PRONUNCIATION: (dy-uh-LEK-tik)
MEANING: noun: A discussion employed in investigating the truth of a thesis.
adjective: Relating to such a discussion.
ETYMOLOGY: From Greek dia- (between) + legein (to speak). Earliest documented use: 1382.
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DIALECTRIC - a constant insulating property
DUALECTIC - voting for two candidates
DIATECTIC - a mixture consisting of two fluids, of uniform composition despite transforming from gas to liquid state or back
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CURTAL
PRONUNCIATION: (KUHR-tuhl)
MEANING: noun: 1. A woodwind instrument, an early form of bassoon, also known as a dulcian.
2. An animal with a tail docked off.
3. Anything abridged or cut short.
adj.: 1. Having a docked tail.
2. Abridged or cut short.
ETYMOLOGY: From French court (short), from Latin curtus (shortened). Earliest documented use: 1509.
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CURTAG - a microchip with the owner's contact information
CURBAL - what makes a baseball pitcher hard to hit
CARTAL - proposed name for a British moving company, ultimately rejected in favor of simply Pickfords ("We Carry Everything!")
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NIDDERING
PRONUNCIATION: (NID-uhr-ing)
MEANING: noun: A coward or wretch.
ETYMOLOGY: From erroneous reading of Middle English nithing, from Old English nithing, from Old Norse nidhingr, from nidh (scorn). Earliest documented use: 1596.
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NIDDERINE - from the city or culture of Nidder
NADDERING - babbling, prattling, speaking blandly and inanely
NIDGERING - poking or otherwise rousing from a state of inactivity or inattention
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BROGUE
PRONUNCIATION: (brohg)
MEANING: noun:
1. A sturdy shoe typically with ornamental perforations and a wing tip.
2. A heavy shoe of untanned leather.
3. A strong accent, especially Irish or Scottish when speaking English.
ETYMOLOGY: From Irish and Scottish Gaelic brog (shoe). The accent sense of the word apparently arose from this kind of shoes worn by the speakers. Earliest documented use: 1587.
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GROGUE - a rum drink for upper-class sailors
BROGLUE - what holds Masons together
DROGUE - a small parachute for initiating the deployment sequence or for high-altitude or fast landings
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VAMP
PRONUNCIATION: (for verb: ree-VAMP, for noun: REE-vamp)
MEANING: verb tr.: To renovate, refurnish, revise, etc.
noun: An instance of renovation, refurnishing, etc.
ETYMOLOGY: From re- (again) + vamp (the front upper part of a shoe), from Old French avanpié, from avant (fore) + pié (foot), from Latin pes (foot). Earliest documented use: 1803.
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VASP - a Teutonic hornet
NAMP - National Association of Military Police; a retired Viet Nam veteran is its head
SAM P. - noted 17th Century Politician and Diarist, as he was known by his familiars
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CLEVER CLOGS
PRONUNCIATION: (KLE-vuhr klogs)
MEANING: noun: Someone perceived to be intelligent or knowledgeable in an annoying way.
ETYMOLOGY: The term boots has been used for a fellow or a person since the early 1600s. From there we got the term clever boots and then clever clogs. Earliest documented use: 1866.
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CLEVER CLODS - dull and uninteresting oafs, but shrewd
CLEAVER CLOGS - looks like the Beav plugged up the toilet again
CLOVER CLOGS - wooden shoes to wear while looking for four-leafed lucky charms
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SHOESTRING
PRONUNCIATION: (SHOO-string)
MEANING:
noun: 1. A string used to tie a shoe: shoelace.
2. A small amount.
adj.: Involving little.
ETYMOLOGY: From itinerant vendors’ selling of trinkets, threads, shoestrings, and other low-value items. Earliest documented use: 1616.
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SHOESTRING - catching a ball just above your sneakers, a moment before it hits the ground
SHOO-STRING - a cord to flail around to ward off flies
SHOE-STING - when a bee gets you right on top of your big toe when you're wearing sandals
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Here is the version that I intended to submit before I saw your post. You will see that it bears some remarkable resemblances to your version!
SHOESTING – lump of grit lodged in one's footwear
SHOOSTRING – piece of cord that one whirls around to repel insects
SHOOTRING – arrangement in which the firing squad completely surrounds the condemned person
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BAUCHLE
PRONUNCIATION: (BAH/BO-kuhl)
MEANING: noun: 1. An old, worn-out shoe.
2. Something useless or worn out.
3. A useless person; a fool.
verb tr.: To subject to disgrace or contempt.
ETYMOLOGY: Of Scottish origin, perhaps from bauch (inferior or substandard). Earliest documented use: 1488.
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BOUCHLÉ - a heavy textile containing nubby, looped yarn, often in two different shades...known for its interesting visual texture and super-soft comfort. [I recall a tongue-twister about blue boots made of it]
BACHLE - in the style of Ol' J.S.
BANUCHLE - a card game played by Gary Larsen's sheep
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GRUM
PRONUNCIATION: (gruhm)
MEANING: adjective: Surly, gloomy, or stern.
ETYMOLOGY: Probably a blend of grim + glum. Earliest documented use: 1640.
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G I RUM - Elixir of Terpin Hydrate (80 proof, it is)
BRUM - shortened form of Birmingham (England); compare "eleëmosynary" --> "alms"
GNUM - a Wildebeest on lidocaine
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MELD
PRONUNCIATION: (meld)
MEANING: verb tr.
intr.: 1. To blend or merge.
2. To declare or make known. For example, in some card games, to declare or display a card or a combination of cards so as to score points.
noun: 1. A blend or merger.
2. A card or a combination of cards declared or laid down to score points.
ETYMOLOGY: For verb, noun 1: Probably a blend of melt + weld. Earliest documented use: 1919.
For verb, noun 2: From German melden (to announce). Earliest documented use: c. 450.
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ME, LTD - the ultimate Personal Corporation
AM ELD - I've been around for a very long time...
MULD - a good way to drink wine on a cool evening
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SPLURGE
PRONUNCIATION: (spluhrj)
MEANING: verb tr., intr.: To spend lavishly or wastefully.
verb intr.: To make an ostentatious display.
noun: An extravagant or ostentatious display or expenditure.
ETYMOLOGY: Perhaps a blend of splash + surge, or maybe imitative. Earliest documented use: 1828.
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SPLUGE - when the sled breaks through the ice and goes into the water
'SPLUMGE - What's that behind the peacock?
SPLURGEN - 1. the source of that expensive caviar you ordered for Brunch;
2. spending the money anyway
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Carpal Tunnel
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GREIGE
PRONUNCIATION: (grayzh)
MEANING: noun: 1. A color between gray and beige.
2. A fabric or yarn that has not undergone bleaching, dyeing, or other finishing processes.
adj.: 1. Of a gray-beige color.
2. Unbleached, undyed, or unfinished.
ETYMOLOGY: For noun, adj. 1: A blend of gray + beige. Earliest documented use: 1927.
For noun, adj. 2: From French grège (raw, unfinished) influenced by gray/beige, from Italian greggio, probably from Latin gregius (plain, ordinary). Earliest documented use: 1835.
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GREIG, E - Norwegian composer, known for his [i]Peer Gynt Siute[i] among many other works
GREY G.E. - Genera Electric is extraordinarily drab
GREIDE - your mark in school. (I think you flunked Spelling.)
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Carpal Tunnel
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RUMPTION
PRONUNCIATION: (RUHMP-shuhn)
MEANING: noun: An uproar or commotion.
ETYMOLOGY: Perhaps a blend of rumpus + ruction. Earliest documented use: 1802.
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RUMUPTION - projectile vomiting after too many Daiquiris
RAMPTION - getting on or off the Information Highway
RUMPTOON - an animated show in which all the characters make asses of themselves
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Carpal Tunnel
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BLACKGUARD
PRONUNCIATION: (BLAG-uhrd/ahrd)
MEANING: noun: 1. A scoundrel.
2. A foul-mouthed person.
verb tr.: To disparage with abusive language.
verb intr.: To speak abusively.
ETYMOLOGY: From a blackguard, a person who did menial work in the kitchen of a noble household. Such a person may be responsible for pots and pans. Hence black + guard. Typically such persons were treated derisively. Earliest documented use: 1535. Another word originating in the kitchen to describe a person is scullion.
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BLOCKGUARD - Security Officer in charge of a whole lot of prisoners
FLACKGUARD - security officer in name only, who got his job under the spoils system
LACKGUARD - unsuspecting and unprotected
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CWM
PRONUNCIATION: (koom)
MEANING: noun: A steep bowl-shaped mountain basin, carved by glaciers. Also known as a cirque.
ETYMOLOGY: From Welsh cwm (valley). Earliest documented use: 1853.
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CWT - a unit of weight - a short (US) hundredweight ("centiweight," or cwt) is 100 pounds (45.36 kg); a long (Imperial) cwt is 8 stone (112 lbs)
OWT - a number for counting backwards, just before ENO.
CWO - an officer who didn't get a commission
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VICTUAL
PRONUNCIATION: (VIT-l)
MEANING: noun: Food, especially food fit for human consumption.
verb tr.: To provide with food.
verb intr.: To obtain food or to eat.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin victualia (provisions), from victus (nourishment), past participle of vivere (to live). Earliest documented use: 1303.
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VICTRAL - pertaining to phonographic sound reproduction
NICTUAL - blinking
VINTUAL - winemaking
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GUNWALE
PRONUNCIATION: (GUHN-l)
MEANING: noun: The upper edge of the side of a ship or a boat.
NOTES: The word is often used in the idiom “to the gunwales” meaning to be full, almost overflowing.
ETYMOLOGY: From gun + wale (a plank along the side of a ship), from its use as a support for guns in earlier times. Earliest documented use: 1466.
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GUNSALE - the NRA's dream come true
GUNSWALE - sloping grass to facilitate drainage from an emplacement
GUNWALK - ready to draw at any moment
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SIDHE
PRONUNCIATION: (shee)
MEANING: noun:
1. A fairy.
2. The race of fairies.
3. A mound or hill where fairies are believed to live.
ETYMOLOGY: From Irish sidh (fairy mound). Earliest documented use: 1724. Now you can see where banshee came from. A banshee is the anglicized spelling of bean sidhe (literally, woman of a fairyland).
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SITHE - orthographically-challenged cutting tool for harvesting grassy crops
SIEHE - look in Berlin
SINDHE - peccavīt
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