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TRUCKLE
PRONUNCIATION: (TRUHK-uhl)
MEANING: verb intr.: To act in a servile manner.
verb tr.: To move or roll on small wheels.
noun: 1. A low bed that slides under another bed. Also known as a truckle bed or a trundle bed.
2. A small wheel.
3. A small barrel-shaped cheese.
ETYMOLOGY: From Anglo-French trocle (roller, pulley), from Latin trochlea (pulley), from Greek trochilea (pulley). Earliest documented use: noun: 1417, verb: 1625.
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TRACKLE - a racetrack 1/8-mile around, the more common length being a quarter-mile
TRUNKLE - pertaining to the torso
TRUCKALE - commoners' cheap beverage that arrives at your pub in a tank truck rather than a bottle or even a keg
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SHELLACK or SHELLAC
PRONUNCIATION: (shuh-LAK)
MEANING: noun:
A resin secreted by the lac insect and purified for use in varnishes, paints, inks, sealing waxes, phonograph records, etc.
A phonograph record, especially a 78 rpm.
A severe defeat or beating.
verb tr.:
To coat or treat with shellac.
To thrash soundly.
To defeat decisively, especially in a contest or game.
ETYMOLOGY: From shell + lac, translation of French laque en écailles (lac in thin plates), from Latin lac, from Arabic lac, from Persian lac, from Prakrit lakkha, from Sanskrit laksha (lac, a red dye). Lac is a resin secreted by the lac insect. Earliest documented use: noun: 1713, verb: 1876.
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SHELL DC - an enlightened Shell Oil Co offers recharging ports for electric vehicles at its fuel stations
SHE'LL ACT - what will happen when she realizes she can't sing or dance
SHELL ACE - a handy thing to have during the Merpeople's Poker Championship
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HONE
PRONUNCIATION: (hohn)
MEANING: noun:
A fine-grained stone or tool for sharpening blades.
A precision tool with a rotating abrasive tip, used to enlarge or smooth a hole.
verb tr.:
To sharpen on a hone.
To enlarge or smooth a hole using a honing tool.
To refine or perfect a skill through long practice.
ETYMOLOGY: From Old English han (stone). Earliest documented use: noun: before 1150, verb: 1400.
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pH ONE - a highly acid solution
HIONE - a Hawaiian ketone (compare HIYONE, a Silver ketone)
HP-ONE - the first prototype hand-held calculator from Hewlett-Packard
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VULN
PRONUNCIATION: (vuhln)
MEANING: noun: Vulnerability: susceptibility to attack, injury, or temptation.
verb tr.: To wound.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin vulnerare (to wound), from vulnus (wound). Earliest documented use: verb: 1583, noun: unknown.
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VILN - a city in Lithuania
V-ULNA - an uncommon deformity of the funnybone, in the lower arm
AVULN - home of King Arthur and the Nuts of the Round Table
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OIK
PRONUNCIATION: (oik)
MEANING: noun: A person perceived as uncouth, unpleasant, and of lower social standing.
ETYMOLOGY: Of unknown origin. Earliest documented use: 1917. Also see chav and yob.
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WOIK - Brooklynese for "Services performed to earn money"
ONIK - a singular semi-precious stone, black with white stripes, traditionally the birthstone for July
OK,IK - shorthand for "We're both doin' all right"
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KERF
PRONUNCIATION: (kuhrf)
MEANING: noun:nn1. A cut, notch, slit, etc. made by a cutting tool.
2. The width of such a cut.
ETYMOLOGY: From Old English cyrf (a cutting). Earliest documented use: before 1150.
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PERF - short for perforations, where Toilet Paper tears. Or doesn't.
SKERF - a head covering worn by the orthographically challenged
SERF - where a seashore-dwelling feudal peasant plays in the waves
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LEAL
PRONUNCIATION: (leel)
MEANING: adjective: Loyal; honest; true.
ETYMOLOGY: From Old French leel, from Latin legalis (legal), from lex (law). Earliest documented use: 1300.
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ALEAL - alternate forms of the same gene leading to different external manifestations of a trait
LEIAL - like the Princess of Alderaan (Surprise! Not of Naboo!)
LEIAL - 2) like a floral necklace
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ERST
PRONUNCIATION: (uhrst)
MEANING: adverb: Formerly: in the past.
ETYMOLOGY: From Old English ǣrest (first), superlative of ǣr (early). Ultimately from the Indo-European root ayer- (day, morning), which also gave us early and ere. Earliest documented use: before 1150. The word is more commonly found in the adjective form erstwhile.
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ERAST - rubbed out
ERSAT - one fake (several would be "ersatz")
'EREST - what G-d do on the seventh day
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MALISON
PRONUNCIATI0N (MAL-uh-zuhn/suhn)
MEANING: noun: A curse.
ETYMOLOGY: From Anglo-French maleiçun (curse), from Latin maledictio (curse), from maledicere (to curse), from mal- (bad) + dicere (to speak). Earliest documented use: 1300.
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MALISON - offspring from one's friend-with-benefits
MALISOU - a counterfeit coin from medieval France (which wasn't worth very much even if genuine)
MACISON - the location of an Apple computer, as in “The Macison the desk”
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POGONOTOMY
PRONUNCIATION: (po-guh-NAH-tuh-mee)
MEANING: noun: The cutting of a beard; shaving.
ETYMOLOGY: From Greek pogon (beard) + -tomy (cutting). Earliest documented use: 1896.
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VOGONOTOMY – how to take all the interest out of the “Hitchhiker's Guide”
POGO? NO, TOMMY! – answer to your kid's question, “Did the opossum in Walt Kelly's old comic strip smoke see-gars?”
POGONOTOME – another name for “razor,” which cuts beard hairs into very thin layers
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AGNOIOLOGY
PRONUNCIATION: (ag-noi-OL-uh-jee)
MEANING: noun: The study of ignorance or the investigation of the unknowable.
ETYMOLOGY: From Greek a- (not) + gnosis (knowledge). Earliest documented use: 1854.
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AGNOSIOLOGY - The study of neurologic deficits pertaining to the loss of ability to interpret sensory input. (An example would be not recognizing a banana by sight, while the capacity to do so by feel or scent or taste is preserved.)
ANNOIOLOGY - knowing all the right buttons to push
AgNIO: LOGY - How should you expect to feel after taking Silver Nitro-Iodo-Oxide?
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ITEROPAROUS
PRONUNCIATION: (IT-uh-ro-PAR-uhs)
MEANING: adjective: Reproducing multiple times in one’s lifetime.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin iterum (again) + -parous (producing). Earliest documented use: 1954.
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ITEROPARLOUS - saying the same thing over and over and over again
INTEROPAROUS - describing the time between productions at La Scala or the Met
AITEROPAROUS - hatching on an island (some turtles reproduce this way)
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MELANISM
PRONUNCIATION: (MEL-uh-niz-uhm)
MEANING: noun: An inherited overproduction of melanin leading to unusually dark coloration.
ETYMOLOGY: From Greek melano- (black). Earliest documented use: 1842.
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MEANISM - 2) espousing "the 'middle' is the sum of all the amounts, divided by the number of samples" - i.e. enhancing the effect of extreme outliers
MEANISM - 3) having an exaggerated tendency to explain everything
MELONISM - worship of Cantaoupe and Honeydew and Casaba; an offshoot of the cult of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
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FULVOUS
PRONUNCIATION: (FUHL-vuhs)
MEANING: adjective: Tawny; brownish-yellow or orange.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin fulvus, from flavus (yellow). Earliest documented use: 1664.
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FULOVOUS - egocentric
FOUL, VOUS! - the French referee just gave him a red card
FUELVOUS - soaked in kerosene
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FESTUCINE
PRONUNCIATION: (FES-tyuh-syn/seen)
MEANING: adjective: Of a pale yellow or straw-like color.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin festuca (stalk, straw). Earliest documented use: 1646.
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FEST-AU-CINÉ - when they take movies at the party
FeS-LUCINE - a nutritional supplement containing insoluble iron sufide and an amino acid
FESTUCIDE - the elimination of all festu
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SPADICEOUS
PRONUNCIATION: (spay/spuh-DISH-uhs)
MEANING: adjective:
1. Of a reddish-brown color.
2. Relating to a spadix, the floral spike usually enclosed in a spathe.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin spadix (a torn-off palm branch and its fruit), from Greek spadix (a torn-off frond). Earliest documented use: 1646.
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SPALDICEOUS - like a pink rubber ball
SOPADICEOUS - soupy, in Mexico City
iPADICEOUS - like a handhold multi-purpose electronic device, more than a Palm Pilot and even a smartphone, but less than a laptop computer
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VERDAZURINE
PRONUNCIATION: (vuhrd-AZH-uh-reen)
MEANING: adjective: Bluish-green; sea-green.
ETYMOLOGY: From Italian verdazzurro (sea-green), from verde (green) + azzurro (blue). Earliest documented use: 1681.
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VEND AZ URINE - when you live in Tucson you can sell your pee
G.E.R.D. AZURINE - a form of GI disease which necessitates that you avoid foods that are blue
VERDAZU RITE - what people do in a Verdizu Rink (see above)
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VERSICOLORED
PRONUNCIATION: (VUHR-si-kuhl-uhrd)
MEANING: adjective:
1. Having many colors; variegated.
2. Having a color that changes in appearance; iridescent.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin vertere (to turn) + color. Earliest documented use: 1721.
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VERTICOLORED - all the pigments go straight up and down
VERBICOLOR-RED - language that's very salty (rated R)
VESSICOLORED - having such thin skin that you can see the arteries and veins right through it
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ADAM AND EVE
PRONUNCIATION: (AD-uhm uhn/uhnd EEV)
MEANING: noun:
1. A beginning.
2. A set of ancestors or founders.
ETYMOLOGY: After the first humans in the Biblical account. Earliest documented use: 1789. See also: Adam’s ale and adamite.
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A DAY AND EVE - a roundabout way of transmitting that "the evening and the morning were the [nth] day", where n is an integer from 1 to 7 inclusive
ALAMAND EVE - part of last night's Square-dancing party
MADAM AND EVE - a very old, very small brothel
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MESS OF POTTAGE
PRONUNCIATION: (MES uhv POT-ij)
MEANING: noun: Something trivial accepted in return for something of great value, especially when done for immediate gratification.
ETYMOLOGY: From mess (dish), from Latin missum (sent to a table), past participle of mittere (to send) + pottage (a thick soup, literally something in/from a pot). Earliest documented use: 1330.
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MESS OF POSTAGE - what the USPS has made of the mail system
MASS OF POTTAGE - a large glob of oatmeal
MESS OF COTTAGE - what Hansel and Gretel left the Wicked Witch's house in when they escaped from her clutches
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SALT OF THE EARTH
PRONUNCIATION: (SALT uhv thuh UHRTH)
MEANING: noun: A person or group considered to be among the finest of humanity.
ETYMOLOGY: From salt, from Old English sealt + earth, from Old English eorthe. Earliest documented use: 1386.
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SAULT OF THE EARTH - when the Cow jumped over the Moon
SALUT OF THE EARTH - the first primitive toast, over homebrewed wine
SALE OF THE EARTH - a real estate scam
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WRITING ON THE WALL
PRONUNCIATION: (RY-ting ahn thuh WAWL)
MEANING: noun: A clear sign of impending decline or disaster.
ETYMOLOGY: From write, from Old English writan + wall, from Old English weall, from Latin vallum (rampart), from vallus (stake). Earliest documented use: 1663.
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WRITING ON THE WALK - preparation for a game of Hopscotch
WRITING ON THE WILL - the literataure of free-choice-vs-determinism
WRITING ON THE BALL - what some stars are still willing to do for their fans
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FEET OF CLAY
PRONUNCIATION: (FEET ov KLAY)
MEANING: noun: A hidden weakness or flaw in someone otherwise strong and admired.
ETYMOLOGY: From Old English fot (foot) + claeg (clay). Earliest documented use: 1814.
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BEET OF CLAY - It looks inviting but don't try to eat one. Especially if it's been baked.
FEET OF CLAP - gonorrhea of the great toe
FEAT OF CLAY - Henry Clay was a Great Compromiser: he brokered the Treaty of Ghent in Europe, and the Missouri Compromise in the US, among others
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LASE
PRONUNCIATION: (layz)
MEANING: verb tr.: To expose or process with a laser (e.g. to target an object or cut a material).
verb intr.: To give off coherent light.
ETYMOLOGY: Back-formation from laser, an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Earliest documented use: 1962.
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LAOSE - a rare sugar, produced mainly in Vientiane in Southeast Asia
LAGE - a type of beer distinguished by its bottom-fermenting yeast and cool temperature fermentation, produced mostly in Boston
LASO - the Attorney Genera uses Solfeggio
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ABLUTE
PRONUNCIATION: (uh-BLOOT)
MEANING: verb tr., intr.: To bathe or to wash a part of the body.
ETYMOLOGY: Back-formation from ablution, from Latin abluere (to wash off), from ab- (away, off) and lavere (to wash). Earliest documented use: 1703.
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FAB-LUTE - the haul from that robbery was great!
AB-LITE - not exactly a 6-pack; maybe a four-pack at best
A FLUTE - a small wind instrument, tuned to 440 Hz
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INSURRECT
PRONUNCIATION: (in-suh-REKT)
MEANING: verb intr.: To rise in revolt against a government or other authority.
ETYMOLOGY: Back-formation from insurrection, from Latin insurgere (to rise up), from in- (intensive prefix) + surgere (to rise). Earliest documented use: 1694.
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INCURRENT - where you want to cast your fishing line
INDURRECT - not straightforward
INSUR-RENT - how to be certain the landlord's bill will be paid
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INCENT
PRONUNCIATION: (in-SENT)
MEANING: verb tr.: To provide a reward or benefit to induce action.
ETYMOLOGY: Back-formation from incentive, from incinere (to strike a tune), from in- (intensive prefix) + canere (to sing). Earliest documented use: 1844.
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INOCENT - free of blame
UNCENT - the movement to stop minting pennies
VINCENT - hundred-year-old wine (Gogh get some)
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TASE
PRONUNCIATION: (tayz)
MEANING: verb tr.: To incapacitate or subdue by delivering an electric shock using a stun gun.
ETYMOLOGY: Back-formation from Taser, a trademark for a stun gun. It was invented by Jack Cover and named TSER, for Tom Swift’s Electric Rifle, inspired by the novel Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle (1911). Earliest documented use: 1991.
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STASE - the bones that stiffen a corset
IT-ASE - the enzyme that digests it
TALSE - The answer to a paradox, like "I always lie!" (How do you like that, Schroedinger!)
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VICISSITUDE
PRONUNCIATION: (vi-SIS-i-tood/tyood)
MEANING: noun: A change in circumstances, typically one that is unwelcome.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin vicis (turn, change). Ultimately from the Indo-European root weik- (to bend or wind), which also gave us weak, week, wicket, wicker, vicarious, and vicar. Earliest documented use: 1576.
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MICISSITUDE - losing a spelling bee because you misspelled the name of the US Gulf coast state whose capital is Jackson
VICISSITULE - a very small misfortune
AVICISSITUDE - when the Bluebird of Happiness fouls your birthday cake
Last edited by wofahulicodoc; 07/31/2025 2:33 AM.
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TRENCHANT
PRONUNCIATION: (TREN-chuhnt)
MEANING: adjective: Incisive and forceful.
ETYMOLOGY: From Old French trenchant (cutting), from present participle of trenchier (to cut), from Latin truncare (to cut), from truncus (trunk, as in a severed tree). Ultimately from the Indo-European root terə- (to cross over or overcome), which also gave us tranche, trench, truncate, trunk, truculent, and trencherman (a hearty eater). Earliest documented use: 1325.
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TRENCHART - pictures drawn by Gis on the walls of their trenches in WWI
TREE CHANT - the music of the woods
FRENCH AUNT – she who owns the pen on my uncle's desk
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UNTRAMMELED or UNTRAMELLED
PRONUNCIATION: (uhn-TRAM-uhld)
MEANING: adjective: Not limited or restricted.
ETYMOLOGY: From un- (not) + trammel (a restriction or hindrance), from Old French tramail, from Latin tremaculum (a three-layered fishing net), from tres (three) + macula (mesh). Ultimately from the Indo-European root trei- (three), which also gave us three, testify (to be the third person: to bear witness), and triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number 13). Earliest documented use: 1795.
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UNTRAMPLED – not of the vintage where the Grapes of Wrath are
U.N. TEAM M.E. LED - the monitors from the United Nations were supervised by the Medical Examiner
ULTRA-SMELLED – raised a big stink
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PILLORY
PRONUNCIATION: (PIL-uh-ree)
MEANING: verb tr.: To subject to severe public criticism or ridicule.
noun: A device used in the past to publicly punish offenders by locking their head and hands in place.
ETYMOLOGY: From Old French pilori, probably from Latin pila (pillar). Earliest documented use: 1330.
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SPILLORY - a side channel in a dam, to permit runoff of excess water
PILFORY - Fagin's School for Buddng Thieves and Pickpockets
PILLOTRY - Frederick's intended profession (pre-Buttercup)
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TEMERITY
PRONUNCIATION: (tuh-MER-i-tee)
MEANING: noun: Excessive or reckless boldness.
ETYMOLOGY: From Latin temere (blindly, rashly). Ultimately from the Indo-European root temh-es- (darkness), which also gave us Sanskrit tamas (darkness), German Dämmerung (twilight), and gotterdammerung. Earliest documented use: 1475. The adjectival form is temerarious
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DEMERITY - reprimandous
TEAMERITY - 1) like excellent Oolong; 2) a portmanteau word: worthy of an award for excellence as a group
TEMERITE - a dark mineral of off-Earth origin
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RABBIT HOLE
PRONUNCIATION: (RAB-it hohl)
MEANING: noun:
1. A bizarre, confusing, or disorienting situation that’s hard to exit.
2. A lengthy and often unproductive detour, especially one involving a series of tangents (as in online browsing).
ETYMOLOGY: From the rabbit hole into which Alice falls in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865). The term was first used literally, for an entrance to a rabbit warren in 1667, and metaphorically from 1938.
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RABBI'S HOLE - where to hide from the Inquisition
ROBBIT HOLE - where to lubricate R. Daneel Olivaw
RABBIT ¡HOLA! - "Eh, what's up, Doc?" in Mexico City
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PHLIZZ
PRONUNCIATION: (fliz)
MEANING: noun: Something existing only in name: an illusion or empty semblance.
ETYMOLOGY: Coined by Lewis Carroll in the novel Sylvie and Bruno (1889). Earliest documented use: 1889.
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POLIZZ - the law enforcer in the Cheezburger store
PHLOZZ - what you scrape between your teeth with
PUH-LIZZ - artsy for "Don't insult my iinteligence!"
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,066 Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,066 Likes: 2 |
JABBERWOCKY
PRONUNCIATION:=. (JAB-uhr-wok)
MEANING: noun: Nonsensical or wildly incoherent speech or writing.
verb intr.: To speak or write in this manner.
ETYMOLOGY: After Jabberwock, a monster in Lewis Carroll’s poem Jabberwocky from Through the Looking Glass (1871). Earliest documented use: 1902.
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JABBARWONKY - Lew Alcindor being silly
JAMBERWOCKY - frolicking at the Boy Scouts' convocation
JA, BIER-WOCKY - "In München steht ein Hofbräuhaus / Eins, zwei, G'Zuffa..."
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,066 Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,066 Likes: 2 |
WHITE KNIGHT
PRONUNCIATION: (HWYT nyt)
MEANING: n noun:
1. One who comes to the rescue of another.
2. A well-meaning but ineffective helper.
ETYMOLOGY: From Old English hwit (white) + cniht (boy, servant). Earliest documented use: 1628; for sense 2: 1957.
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WRITE KNIGHT - the one who kept the minutes of the Round Table meetings
SHITE KNIGHT - the Black Knight (review Monte Python if you need to!)
WHAT? E. KNIGHT? - You mean Michelle Brandon didn't write all those books, it was USA Today journalist Eliza Knight?
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,066 Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,066 Likes: 2 |
BOOJUM
PRONUNCIATION: (BOO-juhm)
MEANING: noun: An imaginary or elusive goal whose pursuit may lead to ruin.
ETYMOLOGY: After an imaginary animal in Lewis Carroll’s poem “The Hunting of the Snark”. In the poem, the Boojum is a particularly dangerous type of Snark, whose sudden appearance causes the hunter to “softly and suddenly vanish away”. Earliest documented use: 1876.
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"BOO!" (jump) - line and stage directions from a grade-school Halloween play
BOOK 'UM - Detective Steve McGarrett's instructions to Sergeant Danny Williams in the old TV show Hawaii 5-0
BOO JAM - a popular confiture made from boo-berries
BOO...RUM! - When you say in Bermuda when they give you a Swizzle and what you really wanted was fine single malt Scotch
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,454 Likes: 10
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,454 Likes: 10 |
PILLERY - drug warehouse
PEELERY - support for the Peelites (British political faction, 1846-59)
PILLARY - neo-Gothic architects' dismissive description of the Classical style
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,454 Likes: 10
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,454 Likes: 10 |
TRIMERITY - triple A grades
TERMERITY or TRIMESTERY - structure of the academic year
EMERITY - status of a retired professor
DEMERITY - penalty for not reading the question properly
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