Noun: A long, thin strip of fabric on the banner of a low-ranking knight used in the Middle Ages, cut off when he ascended to a higher rank. Thus, "getting one's schwenkel cut off" isn't nearly as painful as it sounds.
"Haila Stoddard, playing Pauline on The Secret Storm was supposed to say to her mother, 'I always thought she was a bit of a witch.' Instead, there on live TV, in front of millions, she said, 'whit of a bitch.' Her astounded mom, instead of going on with her regular lines, responded, 'Oh dear, Pauline, you didn't mean to say that!' It took the actors ten minutes to get back to the script."
-Uncle John's All-Purpose Extra Strength Bathroom Reader
Usually used in the context of newspaper articles, for the first sentence which sums up the topic of the article. There are some very strange ledes out there. Here's one from MSNBC: "A carpenter who keeps his clothes clean by working in the nude was arrested after a client returned home early and found him building bookcases in the buff."
A young Indian mystic who discovers the true meaning of life as a ferryman serving only the finest in freshly-caught, hickory-grilled, and lightly lemon-seasoned fillets.
I never understood why a dictionary is considered good for learning the correct way to spell a word. If I don't know how the word is spelled, how can I look it up in the dictionary?
Legend has it that this word was coined in a bet. In 1780, Dublin theater owner James Daly boasted that he could make up a word and it would become the talk of the town overnight. Everyone within earshot thought it was so preposterous that they took him up on it. Daly paid an army of children to write the word in chalk on walls, streets, billboards, etc. The following morning, everyone was speculating what the strange word meant, and many suspected it was obscene. It came to be used to mean a practical joke, because that's what Daly had played on Dublin, then to mean making fun of someone with verbal banter, then it took on its present-day meaning. Most lexicographers deny this story is true, though.
Also the name of an enemy in Super Mario 64. A giant slab of stone with stubby arms and legs and a big, ugly face. It tries to crush Mario by falling on him, but if it misses, he can kill it by ground-pounding the weak spot on its back.
Supposedly derived from Boh, a general from Norse myth. Boh was a son of Odin and a general, and was so fierce and powerful that the mere mention of his name struck fear in the hearts of his enemies. Viking warriors would shout his name when launching a surprise attack, and that eventually led to the custom of shouting "Boo!" when surprising someone.
Kent Hovind once claimed that this word means "single spoken sentence" as "proof" of a Biblical creation. I guess after mangling all known fields of science, he decided to tackle etymology.
Comments by tbtabby
Show previous 200 comments...
tbtabby commented on the word operation slammer
The U.S. program of interviewing convicted spies in prison to learn their motives and prevent future spying.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word dry clean
To make sudden U-turns or other driving maneuvers in order to spot, and hopefully lose, enemy agents who may be tailing you.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word sheep dipping
Obscuring the true identity of individuals and equipment, so they can be sent on secret missions.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word national agent
A non-existent secret agent who is identified as a source of information in order to protect the real source.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word l pill
A suicide pill. The L stands for "lethal."
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word dog drag
Being chased by bloodhounds? Just drag this device behind you as you flee. It'll release a scent that throws them off your trail.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word floater
A low-level employee, such as a waiter or bellhop, who occasionally freelances for a spy agency when needed.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word black-bag job
Sneaking into a home or office and searching it, leaving no evidence that you were there.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word ducats
Couldn't tell ya.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word mitting
Applause.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word scribbler
In Hollywood, it's slang for a TV writer.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word preem
A movie premiere.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word cleffer
A songwriter.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word ad-pub
The advertising and publicity department of a movie studio.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word alphabet
Hollywood slang for ABC.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word peacock
Hollywood slang for NBC.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word eye
Hollywood slang for CBS.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word net
Hollywood slang for a TV network.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word nabe
A neighborhood theater.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word n.s.g.
Not So Good.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word off-net
Network reruns sold into syndication.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word socko
Very good, as in "socko b.o."
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word kidvid
Children's television.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word terper
A dancer.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word ducats
Hollywood slang for movie or concert tickets.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word feevee
Pay TV.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word zitcom
A sitcom aimed at teens.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word diskery
A record company.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word kudocast
An awards show.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word bird
Hollywood slang for a satellite.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word percenter
An agent.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word aud
Audience.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word mouse house
The Walt Disney Company.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word lense
In entertainment industry slang, "to shoot a movie."
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word mouse
Entertainment industry slang for the Walt Disney Company.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word ankle
In entertainment industry lingo: "To quit or be dismissed from a job, without necessarily specifying which."
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word ayem
Morning.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word tubthump
To promote something heavily.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word perf
Acting performance.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word sprocket opera
A film festival.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word b.o.
In the entertainment industry, stands for "Box Office."
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word click
In the entertainment industry, a movie that does well at the box office.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word meller
Melodrama.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word crix
Critics.
August 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word batman
The name of a town in Turkey.
August 21, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word blackheart
Also a Marvel Comics villain.
August 19, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word panspermia
Used in Dinosaur Comics.
August 18, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word dénouement
One of Strong Sad's favorite words, along with loquentia, imbruglia, precipitous, saralee, and cheesecake.
August 3, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word axillism
Never mind...seems my source was wrong.
August 3, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word schwenkel
Noun: A long, thin strip of fabric on the banner of a low-ranking knight used in the Middle Ages, cut off when he ascended to a higher rank. Thus, "getting one's schwenkel cut off" isn't nearly as painful as it sounds.
August 3, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word pon
It's an onomatopoeia in Japanese.
July 15, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word eris
She was very eristic.
July 15, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word übermensch
I love the Action Philosophers comic where Nietzsche beats the crap out of Hitler and Leopold & Loeb for perverting his philosophy.
July 15, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word coin
Means "dogs" in Scottish.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word cat
Means "paint" in Indonesian.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word air
Means "water" in Indonesian.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word bra
Means "good" in Swedish.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word helmet
Means "pearls" in Finnish.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word groin
Means "snout" in French.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word four
Means "oven" in French.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word ale
Means "discount" in Finnish.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word flint
Means "bald head" in Swedish.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word big
Means "piglet" in Dutch.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word travesty
Means "transvestite" in Greek.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word billion
Means "trillion" in French.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word sex
Means "six" in Swedish.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word bean
Means "woman" in Gaelic.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word king
Means "shoe" in Estonian.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word kiss
Means "urine" in Swedish.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word mama
Means "father" in Georgian.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word pies
Means "dog" in Polish.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word bank
Means "bench" in Dutch.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word is
Means "ice cream" in Norwegian.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word pasta
Means "briefcase" in Portuguese.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word made
Means "maggot" in Dutch.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word after
Means "anus" in German.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word santa
Means "wart" in Arabic.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word beast
Means "twenty" in Iranian.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word babe
Means "priest" in SiSwati.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word blubber
Means "sun" in Dutch.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word dad
Means "wet nurse" in Albanian. (A doubly false friend!)
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word brat
Means "brother" in Russian.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word chew
Means "salt" in Amharic.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word turd
Means "fragile" in Persian.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word arse
Means "violin bow" in Turkish.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word bog
Means "god" in Russian.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word fart
Means "exaggerating" in Turkish.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word bless
Means "goodbye" in Icelandic.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word alone
Means "halo" in Italian.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word slut
Means "end" in Swedish.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word city
Means "feelings" in Czech.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word sky
Means "cloud" in Norwegian.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word lawman
Means "lunatic" in Surinamese.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word fatal
Means "annoying" in German.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word kill
Means "Good friend" in Arabic.
July 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word renegade
A really sucky NES beat-em-up.
July 10, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word ginging
The lining of a mine shaft with stones or bricks to prevent a cave-in.
July 6, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word sesquicentennial
It's your sesquicentenn-e-mail!
July 6, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word syzygy
This was almost the name of Atari.
July 5, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word contra dance
You have to give up your American hostages.
July 4, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word boston cream pie
The state dessert of Massachusetts.
July 1, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word dacryd
Falling apart due to decay.
June 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word capuchin
Also the Italian order of monks who wore such garments...and made a very special kind of coffee.
June 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word ipecac
"Epilogue."
"Epilady."
"Epicenter."
"Ipecac."
-Mystery Science Theater 3000
June 25, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word …
Dot dot dot! 20X6! I 20X6'd you good!
June 23, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word ♟
...in Wordie's little game.
June 23, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word preggo
Either word is better than infanticipate.
June 21, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word infanticipate
Adjective: Pregnant. Generally not used anymore, probably because it sounds so much like infanticide.
June 20, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word digger
An excellent webcomic.
June 19, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word mcjob
McDonald's does not like the use of this word. They sued Mirriam-Webster over it.
June 18, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word honeymoon
The brief period between "I do" and "you'd better."
June 16, 2009
tbtabby commented on the list unused-positives-for-negative-words
Illusioned?
June 16, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word superette
This is what convenience stores were called in the 1930s.
June 16, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word boom
Vengaboys are back in town.
June 15, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word hello
Please tell me this is fake.
June 15, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word â™›
No, the queen. The king's crown has a cross on top.
June 14, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word boing
The secret to a happy marriage.
June 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word ackamarackus
It means "nonsense."
June 12, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word tuffet
Huh? I'd always heard that a tuffet was a small, grassy hill.
June 10, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word straw man
Popular amongst creationists.
June 9, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word shuttlecock
How do they expect us to fight a war without shuttlecocks?!
May 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word spoonerism
"Haila Stoddard, playing Pauline on The Secret Storm was supposed to say to her mother, 'I always thought she was a bit of a witch.' Instead, there on live TV, in front of millions, she said, 'whit of a bitch.' Her astounded mom, instead of going on with her regular lines, responded, 'Oh dear, Pauline, you didn't mean to say that!' It took the actors ten minutes to get back to the script."
-Uncle John's All-Purpose Extra Strength Bathroom Reader
May 21, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word cynicism
An unpleasant way of stating the facts.
May 19, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word al-qahira
It means "victory." It was chosen by the Fatimid Muslims when they conquered Egypt.
May 16, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word brobdingnagian
The opposite of lilliputian.
May 15, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word dewlap
"...I would have a DEWLAP!" -Tom Servo
May 11, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word national pi day
The only custom I know of is to eat pie and sing "Happy Birthday, Dear Albert" at 1:59 PM.
May 10, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word kablooka
Koopa Troopa paratroopa Bowser's Castle go kablooka!
May 8, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word spermology
As you can guess by the name, spermology is the study of...trivia!
April 28, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word strawberry
Strawberries: T-Rex has nothing against them.
April 28, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word chiasmus
When writing fiction, bear in mind: the plot doesn't drive the characters, the characters drive the plot.
April 23, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word monkey
Turns out we ARE monkeys!
April 19, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word dendrofilous
The source I found spelled it like this.
April 17, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word edam
Legend has it that the Uruguayans once defeated the Argentinian navy by using old, hard edam cheeses as cannonballs.
April 14, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word coon
And the raccoon lovers and Austrailian cheese makers are pissed about it being turned into a racial slur.
April 14, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word blue
"Blue color is everlastingly appointed by the Deity to be a source of delight." -John Ruskin
April 8, 2009
tbtabby commented on the list civil-war-wordlist
myspace! A hero must know what it is!
April 8, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word ain't
"I didn't spell 'ain't,' I spelled 'aquaintanceship!'"
April 7, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word aglet
Their true purpose is sinister.
April 5, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word shyster
Alternate spelling: scheister.
March 31, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word sambo
Also a martial art style used by the Russian military.
March 30, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word umbrage
Oh sure, take all the umbrage! Don't leave any for us!
March 28, 2009
tbtabby commented on the list bles
No cornobble?
March 28, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word lede
Usually used in the context of newspaper articles, for the first sentence which sums up the topic of the article. There are some very strange ledes out there. Here's one from MSNBC: "A carpenter who keeps his clothes clean by working in the nude was arrested after a client returned home early and found him building bookcases in the buff."
March 28, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word spoonerism
It's very hard to fight a liar in roaring pain.
March 25, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word madden
Also a name that sends self-proclaimed "hardcore gamers" into conniption fits.
March 19, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word peripatetic
What if someone comes along and calls us "a pair o' pathetic peripatetics?"
March 17, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word monday
The only day of the week that has an anagram: dynamo.
March 12, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word ramen
Ramen!
March 9, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word theory
Evolution is just a...
March 8, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word haiku
Clowns are raining down.
Hear the scream of the grease paint!
Danger! Clown puddles.
March 8, 2009
tbtabby commented on the list double-z
Nazzard!
March 7, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word vanilla
Closely related to horehound.
March 5, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word tween
Ryan North hates this word.
March 5, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word platyplus
A mammal with webbed feet, a duck bill, and opposable thumbs.
March 4, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word tskmaster
An ineffective slave driver.
March 4, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word rescute
Saving the attractive women, children and puppies first.
March 4, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word hippopotamush
Love letters from the obese.
March 4, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word guiltar
No, I got them from Uncle John's Bathroom Reader, which got them from the Washington Post, hence the tag.
March 4, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word whorde
A group of prostitutes.
March 4, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word urinpal
The guy who uses the one next to you even though others are available.
March 4, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word eficient
Extremely efficient.
March 4, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word nimby-pamby
Not being able to decide what to keep out of one's backyard.
March 4, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word idiotarod
An annual Alaskan race in which morons pull huskies sitting on sleds.
March 4, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word wisenheifer
A calf who sneaks up and tips over sleeping cows.
March 4, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word siddhmartha
A young Indian mystic who discovers the true meaning of life as a ferryman serving only the finest in freshly-caught, hickory-grilled, and lightly lemon-seasoned fillets.
March 4, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word errorist
A member of a fanatical cult who blows himself up in a mannequin factory.
March 4, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word frognostication
The science of predicting the exact day and month when someone will make a tired joke about French stereotypes.
March 4, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word sitcoma
A medical condition caused by typical TV fare.
March 4, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word guiltar
A musical instrument whose strings are pulled by your mother.
March 4, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word apocalypso
Day-o. Day-o. Doomsday come and me wanna go home.
March 4, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word fundead
Walking corpses that wear lampshades on their heads.
March 4, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word palindromeo
The legendary 18th century lover Casanova Von Asac, who was rumored to go both ways.
March 4, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word philaunderer
He may hop from bed to bed, but he always washes the sheets.
March 4, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word dummary
An unnecessary explanation of a patently obvious concept. For example, "Dummary: An unnecessary explanation of a patently obvious concept."
March 4, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word misnomer
What kind of animal is a titmouse?
What country do Panama hats come from?
What color is the red coral of the Mediterranean?
March 2, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word snafu
Also the name of an Intellivision game.
March 2, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word niggardly
Dinosaur Comics used it.
March 1, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word 42
I prefer splunge.
February 28, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word dictionary
I never understood why a dictionary is considered good for learning the correct way to spell a word. If I don't know how the word is spelled, how can I look it up in the dictionary?
February 27, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word malifulous
Adjective: Flowing sweetly and smoothly, like honey. Usually refers to a person's tone of voice or writing style.
February 25, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word igloo
What you use to repair a broken ig.
February 25, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word tessenjutsu
Noun: A Japanese martial art based around the use of a war fan.
February 25, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word finger
They call 'em fingers, but you never see 'em fing. ...Whoah, there they go.
February 23, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word savate
There are French guys that can beat your ass.
February 22, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word newt
I have a pet newt named Tiny. I named him Tiny because he's my newt.
February 22, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word cock robin
The subject of a nursery rhyme, which later became the subject of an early Disney cartoon.
February 20, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word pianist
Every pianist should invest in a chirogymnast.
February 18, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word puckfist
Noun: A variety of puffball fungus.
February 18, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word thespian
ACTING!
February 18, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word tucotuco
Noun: A small, burrowing rodent belonging to the family Ctenomyidae, indigenous to South America.
It should be tuco-tuco, though.
February 18, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word quiz
Legend has it that this word was coined in a bet. In 1780, Dublin theater owner James Daly boasted that he could make up a word and it would become the talk of the town overnight. Everyone within earshot thought it was so preposterous that they took him up on it. Daly paid an army of children to write the word in chalk on walls, streets, billboards, etc. The following morning, everyone was speculating what the strange word meant, and many suspected it was obscene. It came to be used to mean a practical joke, because that's what Daly had played on Dublin, then to mean making fun of someone with verbal banter, then it took on its present-day meaning. Most lexicographers deny this story is true, though.
February 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word kickboxing
Who wants to go around kicking boxes?
February 12, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word testimony
Comes from the ancient Roman practice of placing a hand on one's testicles while making an oath.
Best. Etymology. EVER.
February 7, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word superbowl
Do you have really cool commercials made just for the breaks during the Melbourne Cup?
January 31, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word mabble
I found it in Uncle John's Second Bathroom Reader.
January 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word dendrofilous
Adjective: Loving trees enough to live in them.
January 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word cherubimical
Adjective: Inebriated.
January 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word walm
Verb: To bubble up.
January 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word slibbersauce
Noun: A disgusting substance.
January 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word shongable
Noun: A shoemaking tax.
January 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word shench
Verb: To pour a drink for someone.
January 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word mabble
Verb: To wrap one's head.
January 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word roddikin
Noun: A cow or deer's fourth stomach.
January 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word eristic
Comes from Eris, the goddess of discord?
January 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word alliaphage
Noun: A garlic eater.
January 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word nazzard
Noun: A lowly or weak person.
January 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word zuber
Noun: A European breed of buffalo.
January 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word nash-gob
Noun: An arrogant gossip.
January 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word mubblefubble
Noun: Depression.
January 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word yerd
Verb: To beat with a stick.
January 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word moll-buzzer
Noun: A thief who specializes in robbing women.
January 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word lingible
Adjective: Meant to be licked.
January 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word wamfle
Verb: To walk around with flapping clothes.
January 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word girn
Verb: To bear one's teeth in anger or sadness.
January 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word rhotacism
Noun: Excessive use of the letter R.
January 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word franch
Verb: To eat greedily.
January 26, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word whomp
Also the name of an enemy in Super Mario 64. A giant slab of stone with stubby arms and legs and a big, ugly face. It tries to crush Mario by falling on him, but if it misses, he can kill it by ground-pounding the weak spot on its back.
January 23, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word apple
Word nobody's listing: scroggling. Noun. A small, runty apple that's left on the branch after the harvest.
January 23, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word anile
I just heard a contestant guess this on Lingo. I was blown away when I found out it was a real word.
January 22, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word whack
@Asativum: That's because you're thinking of wack.
January 22, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word whomp
What would Miss Finster say if she learned that "whomp" is a real word, but it isn't dirty?
January 22, 2009
tbtabby commented on the list may-or-may-not-be-specific-but-it-s-definitely-not-excrement
There's also crapandina. Give it some love. It's only been listed twice, and both times by me.
January 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word boo
Supposedly derived from Boh, a general from Norse myth. Boh was a son of Odin and a general, and was so fierce and powerful that the mere mention of his name struck fear in the hearts of his enemies. Viking warriors would shout his name when launching a surprise attack, and that eventually led to the custom of shouting "Boo!" when surprising someone.
January 13, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word universe
Kent Hovind once claimed that this word means "single spoken sentence" as "proof" of a Biblical creation. I guess after mangling all known fields of science, he decided to tackle etymology.
January 4, 2009
tbtabby commented on the word fun
F is for Friends who do stuff together
U is for You and me
N is for Anywhere, anytime at all
Down here in the deep blue sea
-Spongebob Squarepants
December 19, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word pulchritude
I can hardly wait for Problem Sleuth to unleash his mighty Pulchritude attack.
November 23, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word swish
Nothing but net!
October 10, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word abbreviate
Why is this word so long?
October 9, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word nincompoop
Lesser known words with similar connotations: liripoop, clinchpoop and twiddlepoop. Perhaps they come from the same root?
October 8, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word azure
...Not seeing what's so bad about it.
October 7, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word plagiarism
Dorothy Parker called this "the only 'ism' that Hollywood believes in."
October 7, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word galligaskin
Noun: Baggy trousers.
October 3, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word crapandina
Noun: A mineral such as toadstone or bufonite said to have healing properties.
October 3, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word spodogenous
Adjective: Pertaining to or due to the presence of waste matter.
October 3, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word anisognathous
Adjective: Having upper and lower teeth that are unlike.
October 3, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word saprostomous
Adjective: Having bad breath.
October 3, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word xystus
Noun: An indoor porch for exercising in winter.
October 3, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word chirogymnast
Noun: A finger exercise machine for pianists.
October 3, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word bridelope
Noun: The act of carrying a new bride off on horseback to the husband's home.
October 3, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word liripoop
Noun: A silly creature.
October 3, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word calcographer
Noun: One who draws with chalk.
October 3, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word wem
Noun: A stain, flaw, or scar.
October 3, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word faffle
Verb: To stutter or mumble.
October 3, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word hobberdehoy
Noun: A youth entering manhood.
October 3, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word cornobble
Verb. To hit something with a fish.
Seriously.
October 3, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word toxophily
A love of archery.
October 1, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word whipjack
Noun: A beggar who is masquerading as a shipwreck survivor.
September 30, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word butte
What's the difference between a butte and a mesa?
September 22, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word pianist
Yakko, Wakko and Dot washed Beethoven's mouth out with soap when he said he was a pianist.
September 21, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word callipygian
What other words can I use to compliment a woman on her figure without being slapped?
September 7, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word numnah
Noun: A pad, often of sheepskin, placed under a horse's saddle.
September 7, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word d'oh
Harry Shearer came up with the word all by himself: it was written into the script as "annoyed grunt."
July 2, 2008
tbtabby commented on the word masticate
I could masticate sausages all day long.
October 19, 2007
tbtabby commented on the word criminal
"A criminal is a person with predatory instincts without sufficient capital to form a corporation." -Howard Scott
October 4, 2007
tbtabby commented on the word condom
"Condoms aren't completely safe. A friend of mine was wearing one and got hit by a bus." -Bob Rubin
October 4, 2007
tbtabby commented on the word titanium
The element with the most bad-assed name.
October 4, 2007
tbtabby commented on the word vagina
"To enter life by way of the vagina is as good a way as any." -Henry Miller
October 4, 2007
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