This week’s theme
Coined words

This week’s words
mimsy
scare quote
proxemics
muppet
bafflegab

This week’s comments
AWADmail 800

Next week’s theme
Blend words

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(BA-fuhl-gab)

MEANING:

noun: Obscure, pompous, or incomprehensible language, such as bureaucratic jargon.

ETYMOLOGY:

Coined by Milton A. Smith, assistant general counsel for the US Chamber of Commerce, in 1952. From baffle, perhaps from Scots bauchle (to denounce) + gab, perhaps of imitative origin.

USAGE:

“You might fool Jack with that kind of bafflegab, but it won’t work on me.”
David Tallach; Upperkirkgate; Lulu; 2015.

“Conversations that would once have been conducted behind closed doors or cloaked in diplomatic bafflegab are now out in the open for all to see.”
Peter Shawn Taylor; America’s First Millennial President; Maclean’s (Toronto, Canada); Jan 16, 2017.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: