Word of the Day: Xerophagy

Definition: Eating dry food especially as part of a religious fast. Herbert was a method actor and evangelist. At Lent, he gave up eating everything except bread and water. Practising xerophagy, he concluded, was not as fun as practising the xylophone.

By |2016-12-27T23:10:34+10:00March 16th, 2015|WOTD|Comments Off on Word of the Day: Xerophagy

Rhyming slang: Raspberry, cobblers, and berk

As rhyming slang evolves, sometimes, the original meaning is forgotten, and we're left with a term that sounds like something your grandmother would say. But deep inside the expression's meaning, lies a kernel of something fantastically uncouth.

By |2017-05-19T08:20:54+10:00March 16th, 2015|Etymology|Comments Off on Rhyming slang: Raspberry, cobblers, and berk

Word of the Day: Qualtagh

Definition: The first person you see after leaving your house on a special occasion (especially New Year) Herbert was superstitious. He averted his eye at black cats. Was too tall for ladders. Wouldn’t let umbrellas in the house—his sniffer frogs saw to that. On Friday 13 December, his homeopath informed him that his qualtagh would [...]

By |2017-05-19T08:20:54+10:00March 15th, 2015|WOTD|2 Comments

Word of the Day: Mainour

Definition: A stolen thing that is found on or near the thief. When Mrs Fiddleton-Pong's prize oscars went missing, she stormed over to her neighbours' house and requested an audience with Cecil. Cecil was somewhat of a fish aficionado—an expertise largely developed through the fact of being a cat. The second oscar had put up somewhat of a [...]

By |2016-12-28T07:02:08+10:00March 14th, 2015|WOTD|Comments Off on Word of the Day: Mainour

Word of the day: Lalochezia

Definition: Relief from stress or pain through swearing. (Though, I like to think of it as 'swearing for pleasure'.) Judy's doctor told her she may get some relief from joining the Laugh Out Loud group, who regularly met for therapeutic laughter sessions. She eagerly turned up for her first LOL session, but went in the [...]

By |2017-05-19T08:20:55+10:00March 13th, 2015|WOTD|2 Comments

Word of the Day: Aboulia

Definition: An inability to act or make decisions. (It's a medical condition.) Sometimes, I wonder if I should ask a doctor if I have aboulia. But I shouldn't. Should I?

By |2016-12-28T07:03:10+10:00March 12th, 2015|WOTD|Comments Off on Word of the Day: Aboulia

Word of the Day: Gongoozler

Definition: A person who idly watches activity on a canal. I got an email from a man in Venice, who said he could make me the city’s Gongoozler in Chief. All I need to do is send him my bank details. And a photo of my passport. And the title deed to my house. I’ve got [...]

By |2017-05-19T08:20:55+10:00March 10th, 2015|WOTD|Comments Off on Word of the Day: Gongoozler

Word of the Day: Psithurism

Definition: The sound of wind rustling in the trees. Listening to the psithurism, the koala fell asleep and dreamed of dinner.

By |2016-12-28T07:06:13+10:00March 9th, 2015|WOTD|Comments Off on Word of the Day: Psithurism

Word of the Day: Balbutient

Definition: (adj.) Stammering or stuttering The balbutient pirate taught his patient parrot to say ‘Pass the rum’ on his behalf. He was getting very thirsty trying to say it by himself.

By |2016-12-28T07:06:48+10:00March 7th, 2015|WOTD|Comments Off on Word of the Day: Balbutient

Word of the Day: Aeolist

Definition: A pompous bore who pretends to have inspiration or spiritual insight. How to remember this word: Aeolus was the God of Wind—so an aeolist is someone who pontificates through their posterior. Anyway, I’m glad I looked it up before I used it in my CV. See, I told you I was psychic.

By |2016-12-28T07:07:33+10:00March 6th, 2015|WOTD|Comments Off on Word of the Day: Aeolist
Go to Top