Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#88094 11/30/2002 1:47 AM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 450
Ata
Offline
addict
addict
Offline
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 450
Is there an adjective for "penguin"? Since they belong to the family Spheniscidae, I coined "spheniscid" for an adjective. If there isn't already an adjectival form of penguin, would this be a reasonable term?


#88095 11/30/2002 1:51 AM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 450
Ata
Offline
addict
addict
Offline
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 450
Never mind. It turns out I didn't invent a new word, but at least I guessed right.


#88096 11/30/2002 8:37 PM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 261
enthusiast
enthusiast
Offline
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 261
Penguid rolls off the toungue more satisfyingly though - it's like languid, only... livelier and err... well, more penguid.


#88097 11/30/2002 9:10 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Interesting that "spheno-" refers to objects shaped like a wedge. I don't quite see penguins as
being shaped like wedges.


#88098 11/30/2002 10:17 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
I see penguins as being wedge-shaped.


#88099 11/30/2002 10:26 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
maybe more of a cone, but definitely bigger at the bottom than at the top!





formerly known as etaoin...
#88100 11/30/2002 10:27 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
would a penguin who takes dictation be a sphenographer?



formerly known as etaoin...
#88101 11/30/2002 10:39 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Here is URL with pictures of penguins. They look like streamlined elongated footballs to me.
http://www.gdargaud.net/Antarctica/Penguins.html

#88102 11/30/2002 10:46 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Stick they bills underneath a tire--they make great chocks to stop a tractor trailer.

Et: Loved your sphenographer comment!


#88103 11/30/2002 11:15 PM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 261
enthusiast
enthusiast
Offline
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 261
Maybe it's the way they kinda toboggan down hills.


#88104 11/30/2002 11:19 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
In reply to:

They look like streamlined elongated footballs to me.


X-Thread Ref. to an old Hogwash:

prolate

It pays to play Hogwash!


#88105 11/30/2002 11:28 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
As in prolate spheroid.


#88106 12/02/2002 9:22 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
Pooh-Bah
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,204
I see penguins as being wedge-shaped.


Surely penguins were around before wedges were invented? If that is so, then it is wedges that are penguin shaped (penguoid?).



#88107 12/02/2002 12:08 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027
old hand
old hand
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027
Is there an adjective for "penguin"?
It depends on whom you want to apply it to, and for what reason


#88108 12/02/2002 12:35 PM
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
dxb Offline
Pooh-Bah
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
Surely penguins were around before wedges were invented?

So did penguinkind invent the wedge in its own image?


#88109 12/02/2002 12:43 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
The penguin is rife with wedges: its beak, its wings, its tail, its feet, its body. Wedges all. Wedgeville. That's what a penguin is. Wedgeville.

And to think orchestral musicians are sometimes called penguins.


#88110 12/02/2002 1:38 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
orchestral musicians are sometimes called penguins

As are nuns.


Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Wedges weren't invented until much later, when there was underwear. Oh. Wedges, not wedgies. Er, never mind.



TEd
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
In first year physics, one learns about the basic mechanical devices. Wedges are an extension
of the inclined plane. And penguins look as though they were wearing tuxedos.


Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
penguins look as though they were wearing tuxedos

What makes you think they're not?


Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
dxb Offline
Pooh-Bah
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
What makes you think they're not?

No cummerbund.


Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
The penguins' tuxedos got no fly to cummer unbund.


Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
So in addition to protozoans there's apparently no fly zoans. But there's a Bush behind every no fly zoan.



TEd
#88117 12/09/2002 7:33 AM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 742
sjm Offline
old hand
old hand
Offline
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 742
Thanks for the cool word, Ata. Now that I've installed Linux, I can tell everybody I'm spheniscating.



Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,915
Posts230,268
Members9,208
Most Online4,606
Sep 17th, 2025
Newest Members
JerryC, blvd, Tony Hood, Wood Delivery, Forix Richard
9,208 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
JerryC 1
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 11,128
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,974
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2025 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.1