Wrong because of the double negative. Right because, well, her point was that the dishlicker was supposed to have been desexed according to racing 'industry' regulations, but hadn't been. And stylistically undesexed is surely preferable to the unwieldy alternative 'that had not been desexed'.
"You can report any bird species - we welcome reports of new behaviours, anywhere across Australia: Big City Birds app or website https://spotteron.com/bigcitybirds/info
Now if there was an amphibious turducken situation where a dog paddling in the river was eaten by a hellbender, which was eaten in turn by an alligator, would not that parse as:
'Water dog eaten by water dog eaten by water dog'?
The Australian Border Force, the immigration blackshirts who need apparently need a pseudo-military name, have transitived this verb as meaning 'to impose a penalty'.
I do not like it.
"ABF Superintendent Vesna Gavranich said large amounts of currency crossing the border both inbound and outbound can be a sign of criminal activity.
“We are aware of organised crime groups attempting to depart Australia with undeclared excess cash in support of well-established money laundering networks," said Superintendent Gavranich. Â
“The ABF is committed to removing funds from the pockets of organised crime groups, and restricting their ability to cause harm to our communities."
“If you need to move significant amounts of cash across our border, to avoid heavy penalties you must simply declare it."
ABF infringed the man $3,756, which he paid before boarding his flight."
Prompted to post this after I rode over one on my bike today, close to the city centre of Hobart. And my first thought was what a brutal little word is nang.
"A dangerous gas and its canisters, designed for whipping cream and linked to two deaths and hundreds of hospitalisations, is being offered for delivery across Queensland.
Nangs — also known as nozzies, bulbs, and whippets — are small bulbs that contain nitrous oxide. The gas in the small canisters is often misused as a recreational drug. People ingest the dangerous product for a 20-30 second high in which the user may feel euphoric and relaxed."
I mean if you said, 'She was wearing a raspberry mini-skirt', the listener's assumption would probably be that you meant raspberry-coloured. As opposed to raspberry-scented, made of raspberries, etc. I guess 'featuring a raspberry pattern' would also compute. Context matters. If it was 'She was wearing a raspberry mini-skirt that complemented her cream blouse' there's even less doubt that the fruit is the colour.
"These sequences look to me like moo-woo: the oft-repeated and oft-debunked story that cows can protect the atmosphere. It’s as if environmentalists had made a film about artisanal coal mining, told heroic stories about the workers, and allowed their viewers to believe that coal mined this way is good for the planet." - George Monbiot, 'There’s no such thing as a benign beef farm – so beware the ‘eco-friendly’ new film straight out of a storybook', 15 April 2024. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/apr/15/beef-farm-eco-friendly-film-documentary-livestock
One set of ballot papers are printed with names as above. Another set would be printed with Ruzuzu at the top, another with Trumplikeweirdo at the top, another with Hellokittyrectalcream at the top.
In practice it actually gets a bit complicated and there can be up to 420 versions of a ballot paper in a 7-member division.
"Robson rotation is a process of rotating candidate names within each column so that the advantage of appearing at the top of the column or directly below another popular candidate are shared equally between candidates. Neil Robson, a former member of the House of Assembly, introduced the process to the Tasmanian Parliament in 1979." - Tasmanian Electoral Commission
"Hare-Clark is a Single Transferable Vote (STV) method of proportional representation. STV means that a ballot paper moves between candidates as determined by the elector’s marked preferences."
FWIW in the 23 March 2024 state election we had to elect 7 members for each of the 5 divisions, for a 35-seat House of Assembly. As of today 5 April the cut up is still being done. In my division of Clark there were 35 candidates, and the other 4 all had over 30.
Let's say there are 10 candidates standing in a division, which elects 5 members to the House of Assembly. A valid vote has to number at least 5 candidates 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and can continue (or not) all the way to 10. In the first count, ballots are sorted into piles according to the number 1 vote. The candidate with the lowest total is declared eliminated. Their pile of votes are then allocated to candidates according to the number 2 preference on those ballot papers. And so on, until only 6 candidates remain ... the 5 with the highest number of votes are declared elected.
In Tasmania (Australia), this is used as a noun or a verb to describe the distribution of a candidate's second and lower preference votes when they are eliminated from a Hare-Clark (voting system) count.
In Australia what was once known as the jabiru is now the black-necked stork. Apparently the name comes from the Tupi–Guaranà language and means 'swollen neck'. I have no idea how the name arrived in northern Australia.
But supposedly the objection was that the jabiru proper is the only bird in the genus Jabiru so it wasn't acceptable for a bird from another genus like the Australian black-necked stork to have the name as well.
Yeah too late, in a way, there's already a town called Jabiru in the Northern Territory, named after you-know-what.
Aand locals like me who lived in the NT for 25 years just liked the name jabiru better so continue to use it.
An Australian expression that equates roughly to 'while campaigning'. It refers to doorknocking but in reality includes conversations political canvassers have at markets, on the street, by phone, etc.
"The feedback I’m getting out there on the doors is very positive. We’ve had a huge campaign in terms of announcing the policies that are actually going to address some of the issues, the biggest issues in Tasmania at the moment: the cost of living crisis, the health crisis and the housing crisis." - Dean Winter, https://tasmaniantimes.com/2024/03/winter-after-10-years-of-liberals-its-time-for-change/
Once a rare element named after a famous scientist, Tom, in a powerful windstorm it was blown right off the atomic table out the window into the yard where a bird snaffled it. The rest, as they say, is history.
"The word surloin or sirloin is often said to be derived from the fact that the loin was knighted as Sir Loin by Charles II, or (according to early 19c. English dictionary writer Charles Richardson) by James I. Chronology makes short work of this statement; the word being in use long before James I was born. It is one of those unscrupulous inventions with which English 'etymology' abounds, and which many people admire because they are 'so clever.' The number of those who literally prefer a story about a word to a more prosaic account of it, is only too large." - Walter W. Skeat, 'An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language', 1882
"For many people, adopting a plant-based diet aligns with their personal values and beliefs. Choosing plant-based foods can be seen as a way to practice kindness and compassion towards animals, the environment, and other humans. It can also be a way to challenge the status quo and promote positive change in society."
"Additionally, these oils are effective in addressing dry skin issues. They act as potent moisturisers, eliminating flaky and dry skin, commonly known as 'beardruff', thereby promoting healthy skin. The moisturising properties of beard oils are not limited to the beard alone but also extend to the skin beneath."
Kooky Canuck ex-con Kane Cooke carelessly conked his conchus with a rococo coco-corn condiment container containing cocoa-coated cockroaches in coachmen's coats..
"For the last 78 years, the Sydney to Hobart yacht race has been run on Boxing Day December 26.
This year the cannon will sound at 1pm, signalling the start of the race once again. The Rolex Sydney to Hobart yacht race commences on 26 December and ends on December 31, 2023
This year 113 entrants will race the 628 nautical mile course. The oldest vessel in this years race was built in 1932.
All radio sked frequencies and times remain the same as previous years and are listed below."
That got me thinking about Airbus, but the -bus seems to be related to conventional understandings of the word bus as a large transport vehicle.
"The name 'Airbus' was taken from a non-proprietary term used by the airline industry in the 1960s to refer to a commercial aircraft of a certain size and range, as it was linguistically-acceptable to the French." - Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Airbus
"Media are invited to the Murray Street Pier (outside of Franklin Wharf Restaurant) to capture images of the Tasmanian Tigers celebrating their WNCL title win.
There will be an opportunity to interview members of the Tigers squad, and capture footage of the WNCL winning players in their Mad Monday costumes."
- email to media outlets from Cricket Tasmania, 26 February 2024
In Australia there's a tradition, recent I feel, for sporting teams to go out and party as a group on the Monday following their last game of the season. They often (fancy) dress up for a pub crawl, etc. And these kind of shenanigans are referred to as mad Monday.
kelÉ™-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning "warm." It forms all or part of: caldera; calid; Calor; caloric; calorie; calorimeter; cauldron; caudle; chafe; chauffeur; chowder; coddle; lee; lukewarm; nonchalant; scald (v.) "afflict painfully with hot liquid or steam."
It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit carad- "harvest," literally "hot time;" Latin calor "heat," calidus "warm," calere "be hot;" Lithuanian šilti "become warm," šilus "August;" Old Norse hlær, Old English hleow "warm."
"We’ll be taking several important safety steps ahead of making Sora available in OpenAI’s products. We are working with red teamers — domain experts in areas like misinformation, hateful content, and bias — who will be adversarially testing the model." - OpenAI, https://openai.com/sora
"The Hobart City Council Planning Committee has approved a development application for a new building (food service use) for 15 Marieville Esplanade, Sandy Bay.
The application is for a shipping container to be repurposed as a tuck shop."
"Excuse-flation where general inflation provides camouflage for businesses to raise prices without justification is also more prevalent in the current environment. As inflation starts to fall excessive inflationary expectations and future cost increases can be built into prices."
Comments by bilby
bilby commented on the list e-lora-della-pappa-real-bowl-e5xsPAwQwWuul6GRP3UFx
SPAM
April 19, 2024
bilby commented on the word undesexed
Wrong because of the double negative. Right because, well, her point was that the dishlicker was supposed to have been desexed according to racing 'industry' regulations, but hadn't been. And stylistically undesexed is surely preferable to the unwieldy alternative 'that had not been desexed'.
April 19, 2024
bilby commented on the word undesexed
An activist said this about an ex-racing greyhound today and it sounded right but also wrong. I'll see if I can find the transcript.
April 19, 2024
bilby commented on the word natte
FWIW I feel natte is nattier than nat.
April 18, 2024
bilby commented on the word cafe bird
Spotted on Twitter:
"You can report any bird species - we welcome reports of new behaviours, anywhere across Australia: Big City Birds app or website https://spotteron.com/bigcitybirds/info
Please report the cafe birds you see sneaking a free-feed at cafes, restaurants, etc 😉 @BigCityBirds1" - https://x.com/Wingtags/status/1780839872594583944
April 18, 2024
bilby commented on the word skibidi
Also very Ned Flanders.
April 18, 2024
bilby commented on the word amphibious turducken situation
Some day I may have to account for what I have done on this site over the years and I will plead the Fifth.
April 18, 2024
bilby commented on the word amphibious turducken situation
See hellbender.
April 18, 2024
bilby commented on the word hellbender
Alright then you long-eared louse factory.
dog in river = water dog
hellbender = water dog
alligator = hellbender = water dog.
QED.
April 18, 2024
bilby commented on the word hellbender
Show your workings.
April 18, 2024
bilby commented on the word hellbender
Now if there was an amphibious turducken situation where a dog paddling in the river was eaten by a hellbender, which was eaten in turn by an alligator, would not that parse as:
'Water dog eaten by water dog eaten by water dog'?
April 18, 2024
bilby commented on the word hellbender
"...Also called alligator, and water dog."
April 18, 2024
bilby commented on the word infringe
The Australian Border Force, the immigration blackshirts who need apparently need a pseudo-military name, have transitived this verb as meaning 'to impose a penalty'.
I do not like it.
"ABF Superintendent Vesna Gavranich said large amounts of currency crossing the border both inbound and outbound can be a sign of criminal activity.
“We are aware of organised crime groups attempting to depart Australia with undeclared excess cash in support of well-established money laundering networks," said Superintendent Gavranich. Â
“The ABF is committed to removing funds from the pockets of organised crime groups, and restricting their ability to cause harm to our communities."
“If you need to move significant amounts of cash across our border, to avoid heavy penalties you must simply declare it."
ABF infringed the man $3,756, which he paid before boarding his flight."
-Â https://www.abf.gov.au/newsroom-subsite/Pages/Passenger-fined-over-undeclared-currency.aspx
April 17, 2024
bilby commented on the word nang
Prompted to post this after I rode over one on my bike today, close to the city centre of Hobart. And my first thought was what a brutal little word is nang.
April 16, 2024
bilby commented on the word nozzie
See nang.
April 16, 2024
bilby commented on the word nang
"A dangerous gas and its canisters, designed for whipping cream and linked to two deaths and hundreds of hospitalisations, is being offered for delivery across Queensland.
Nangs — also known as nozzies, bulbs, and whippets — are small bulbs that contain nitrous oxide. The gas in the small canisters is often misused as a recreational drug. People ingest the dangerous product for a 20-30 second high in which the user may feel euphoric and relaxed."
- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-27/business-offers-to-deliver-dangerous-nitrous-oxide/100718828
April 16, 2024
bilby commented on the word steam-crack
Okay then. I feared this was the ye old railway equivalent of plumber's crack.
April 16, 2024
bilby commented on the word quaigh
A variant is quaich.
April 16, 2024
bilby commented on the word quaigh
Pronouned quaff or queff methinks.
April 16, 2024
bilby commented on the word colporrhagia
Ok, who favourited this?
April 16, 2024
bilby commented on the word lectica
Maybe we can revive this for inflatable furniture.
April 16, 2024
bilby commented on the word oroblanco
Aaand don't forget that all colours are more vivid than just colors :-/
April 16, 2024
bilby commented on the word oroblanco
I mean if you said, 'She was wearing a raspberry mini-skirt', the listener's assumption would probably be that you meant raspberry-coloured. As opposed to raspberry-scented, made of raspberries, etc. I guess 'featuring a raspberry pattern' would also compute. Context matters. If it was 'She was wearing a raspberry mini-skirt that complemented her cream blouse' there's even less doubt that the fruit is the colour.
April 16, 2024
bilby commented on the word oroblanco
Arguably lots: lime, tangerine, etc.
Though I asked an AI bot and it said starfruit, wth?
April 16, 2024
bilby commented on the word moo-woo
"These sequences look to me like moo-woo: the oft-repeated and oft-debunked story that cows can protect the atmosphere. It’s as if environmentalists had made a film about artisanal coal mining, told heroic stories about the workers, and allowed their viewers to believe that coal mined this way is good for the planet." - George Monbiot, 'There’s no such thing as a benign beef farm – so beware the ‘eco-friendly’ new film straight out of a storybook', 15 April 2024. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/apr/15/beef-farm-eco-friendly-film-documentary-livestock
April 15, 2024
bilby commented on the word tank slapper
I was thinking this might have a military meaning.
April 15, 2024
bilby commented on the word headfirst
From a Twitter thread about nicknames:
"A Scotsman called Rob Slater whose clocking-in card bore the name R.Slater. His nickname among his workmates was 'Heed First'." - https://twitter.com/OldCountryGirl4/status/1778341846453833811
April 13, 2024
bilby commented on the word skiascopy
Ok so not applicable to groundhogs?
April 10, 2024
bilby commented on the word sugar of doubtful identity
See chondroglucose.
April 8, 2024
bilby commented on the word chondroglucose
sugar of doubtful identity
April 8, 2024
bilby commented on the word darem
In modern Italian dare una mano means exactly the same as lend a hand does in English.
April 8, 2024
bilby commented on the word limopsid
Shorter but still luxurious version of the stretch limopsid.
April 7, 2024
bilby commented on the word Robson rotation
What about oil derricks? Or is there dastardly deed of derrick-deck dereliction at hand?
April 6, 2024
bilby commented on the word noseleaf
Anyone collecting bats?
April 5, 2024
bilby commented on the word rocket packs
How many rockets per pack?
April 5, 2024
bilby commented on the word Robson rotation
Example: lets say our candidates are
Bloggs
Ruzuzu
Trumplikeweirdo
Hellokittyrectalcream
One set of ballot papers are printed with names as above. Another set would be printed with Ruzuzu at the top, another with Trumplikeweirdo at the top, another with Hellokittyrectalcream at the top.
In practice it actually gets a bit complicated and there can be up to 420 versions of a ballot paper in a 7-member division.
See here for more on how the sausages are made: https://www.tec.tas.gov.au/info/Robson_Rotation_Paper.pdf
April 5, 2024
bilby commented on the word Robson rotation
"Robson rotation is a process of rotating candidate names within each column so that the advantage of appearing at the top of the column or directly below another popular candidate are shared equally between candidates. Neil Robson, a former member of the House of Assembly, introduced the process to the Tasmanian Parliament in 1979." - Tasmanian Electoral Commission
April 5, 2024
bilby commented on the word Hare-Clark
About the Hare-Clark voting system: https://www.tec.tas.gov.au/info/Publications/HareClark.html
April 5, 2024
bilby commented on the word cut up
FWIW in the 23 March 2024 state election we had to elect 7 members for each of the 5 divisions, for a 35-seat House of Assembly. As of today 5 April the cut up is still being done. In my division of Clark there were 35 candidates, and the other 4 all had over 30.
April 5, 2024
bilby commented on the word cut up
Let's say there are 10 candidates standing in a division, which elects 5 members to the House of Assembly. A valid vote has to number at least 5 candidates 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and can continue (or not) all the way to 10. In the first count, ballots are sorted into piles according to the number 1 vote. The candidate with the lowest total is declared eliminated. Their pile of votes are then allocated to candidates according to the number 2 preference on those ballot papers. And so on, until only 6 candidates remain ... the 5 with the highest number of votes are declared elected.
April 5, 2024
bilby commented on the word cut up
In Tasmania (Australia), this is used as a noun or a verb to describe the distribution of a candidate's second and lower preference votes when they are eliminated from a Hare-Clark (voting system) count.
April 5, 2024
bilby commented on the word cake-copper
Inferior to fuflun-copper.
April 1, 2024
bilby commented on the word softa
Take a break from your studies, young softa!
Come hither for yum vegan kofta
Though just a wee snack
It'll put you on track
To take your philosophising alofter
April 1, 2024
bilby commented on the word griffe
Ideal for your Brown Bastard or Classical Architecture? list.
April 1, 2024
bilby commented on the word deathblow
accidental deathblow fly away in a manger
March 31, 2024
bilby commented on the word cooccurrence
Coocoo cajoob!
March 31, 2024
bilby commented on the word zareba
Seems like it needs a permanent exclamation mark behind it.
Zareba! Gadzooks!
March 29, 2024
bilby commented on the word ycomen
If you listen carefully to the soundtrack of The Wicker Man (first version) they are singing Summer Is Ycomen In at the end.
March 27, 2024
bilby commented on the word dizzard
Also disard.
March 27, 2024
bilby commented on the word phronesis
Good call zu-keeper.
March 27, 2024
bilby commented on the user bilby
My stats say I have looked up 0 words and I suspect that's an undercount. Sayin'.
March 26, 2024
bilby commented on the word treacle-wormseed
Two vegan hot dogs please, one with ketchup, one with treacle-wormseed.
March 26, 2024
bilby commented on the word treacle-wormseed
Parses to just mustard I think.
March 26, 2024
bilby commented on the word wild river
Not sure if it's relevant but in Tasmania (Australia) we have the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.
March 26, 2024
bilby commented on the word exundating
You've tried dating with mixed results, right, but have you tried exundating?
March 26, 2024
bilby commented on the word hero call
On the river?
March 26, 2024
bilby commented on the word naartjie
Ideal for your Rare Fruit or Biting Insect? list.
March 25, 2024
bilby commented on the word lithopedion
If a bit ewww.
March 25, 2024
bilby commented on the word lithopedion
Feels like it would be devastating when used metaphorically.
March 25, 2024
bilby commented on the word phronesis
Great qms limerick below. Banger.
March 25, 2024
bilby commented on the word meeking
Uffa, someone's been verbing meek?
March 22, 2024
bilby commented on the word groove-fellow
Hey funky cat, send me a coal bucket, you dig?
Coming 'round like a merry-go, groove-fellow!
March 22, 2024
bilby commented on the word aquastat
These things are probably quite common yet it's the first time I've heard this word.
March 21, 2024
bilby commented on the word verbal statues
In Australia what was once known as the jabiru is now the black-necked stork. Apparently the name comes from the Tupi–Guaranà language and means 'swollen neck'. I have no idea how the name arrived in northern Australia.
But supposedly the objection was that the jabiru proper is the only bird in the genus Jabiru so it wasn't acceptable for a bird from another genus like the Australian black-necked stork to have the name as well.
Yeah too late, in a way, there's already a town called Jabiru in the Northern Territory, named after you-know-what.
Aand locals like me who lived in the NT for 25 years just liked the name jabiru better so continue to use it.
March 21, 2024
bilby commented on the word verbal statues
Bird names are a bin fire anyway.
March 21, 2024
bilby commented on the word on the doors
An Australian expression that equates roughly to 'while campaigning'. It refers to doorknocking but in reality includes conversations political canvassers have at markets, on the street, by phone, etc.
"The feedback I’m getting out there on the doors is very positive. We’ve had a huge campaign in terms of announcing the policies that are actually going to address some of the issues, the biggest issues in Tasmania at the moment: the cost of living crisis, the health crisis and the housing crisis." - Dean Winter, https://tasmaniantimes.com/2024/03/winter-after-10-years-of-liberals-its-time-for-change/
March 21, 2024
bilby commented on the word bryaceous
All you fake mosses out there have been warned.
March 21, 2024
bilby commented on the word cheeseweed
Serve on crackerweed for the ultimate wild-foraged canape.
March 21, 2024
bilby commented on the word cachalot
I suppose they do cachalot of squid.
March 20, 2024
bilby commented on the word lation
Hey, possible name for your autonomous self-driving taxi start-up.
March 20, 2024
bilby commented on the word tomium
Once a rare element named after a famous scientist, Tom, in a powerful windstorm it was blown right off the atomic table out the window into the yard where a bird snaffled it. The rest, as they say, is history.
March 20, 2024
bilby commented on the word inverted arch
I've come across a_holes and eye holes so we might as well have U-holes.
March 20, 2024
bilby commented on the word chawdron
Slop some chawdron in yer cauldron.
March 19, 2024
bilby commented on the word tammar
The common name of the animal is derived from the thickets of the shrub locally known as tamma (Allocasuarina campestris) that sheltered it in Western Australia according to the Department of Environment and Conservation - https://web.archive.org/web/20110225064720/http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/component/option%2Ccom_docman/task%2Cdoc_download/gid%2C133/Itemid%2C/
March 19, 2024
bilby commented on the word foot passenger
What if the passenger is a double amputee?
March 19, 2024
bilby commented on the word golliwog
The rhyming slang definition is interesting with nowadays dog racing being considered a cruel form a animal exploitation in most civilised countries*.
A racist caricature as rhyming slang for an abomination, hoo-boy.
March 19, 2024
bilby commented on the word yachtsmanship
A bit like a catamaran. A yacht on each side and a sman in the middle.
March 18, 2024
bilby commented on the word yachtsmanship
But isn't a yacht a kind of ship? Might as well say yachtsmanyacht.
March 18, 2024
bilby commented on the word upsert
Apart from anything else it reminds of yucky stuff like upskirt.
March 18, 2024
bilby commented on the word upsert
I'm glad this has not escaped from the whiffy confines of geekdom.
March 18, 2024
bilby commented on the word impitoyable
Yes, pitylessly is the way to drink wine.
March 18, 2024
bilby commented on the word picket-fence pony
See danger zebra.
March 17, 2024
bilby commented on the word danger zebra
What's a zebra then? Picket fence pony? Pedestrian crossing of the savannah?
March 17, 2024
bilby commented on the list sweet-tooth-fairy
You've just been hiding because England can't win the Ashes to Ashes, eh.
March 16, 2024
bilby commented on the word azipod
Presumably an audio show about these would be an azipodcast.
March 15, 2024
bilby commented on the word shelter
I feel like I'm punching down a bit here given this is quite a modest little two syllable word but I just don't like the way it sounds.
March 14, 2024
bilby commented on the word shield
Same root as shelter.
March 14, 2024
bilby commented on the word forthrist
I could really forthrist a fresh orange juice right about now.
March 14, 2024
bilby commented on the word kick it in the dick
I have never heard it in Australia. Mind you, I haven't been to this kind of show in about the last 5 years.
March 14, 2024
bilby commented on the word saggar
Also seggar.
March 13, 2024
bilby commented on the word snippy
A preppie but snippy hippie papprazzi chappie snapped happy clappers happily clapping claptrap.
March 13, 2024
bilby commented on the word resegmentation
Spelling should be reseg-ment-ati-on.
March 12, 2024
bilby commented on the list words-with-letters-in-alphabetical-order
Raise you bellow.
March 12, 2024
bilby commented on the word sirloin
"The word surloin or sirloin is often said to be derived from the fact that the loin was knighted as Sir Loin by Charles II, or (according to early 19c. English dictionary writer Charles Richardson) by James I. Chronology makes short work of this statement; the word being in use long before James I was born. It is one of those unscrupulous inventions with which English 'etymology' abounds, and which many people admire because they are 'so clever.' The number of those who literally prefer a story about a word to a more prosaic account of it, is only too large." - Walter W. Skeat, 'An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language', 1882
March 11, 2024
bilby commented on the word abaci
Who knew?
March 10, 2024
bilby commented on the word hog's haw
See pomette bleue.
March 10, 2024
bilby commented on the word quassation
Saskia asked sassily to watch sad sasquatch quassation of cumquat crossisants.
March 9, 2024
bilby commented on the word quass
See also quassation.
March 9, 2024
bilby commented on the word officer-plant
I was not aware our officers were bright red. Must be the sun.
March 9, 2024
bilby commented on the word pantogen
Did it make all the Pantone colours too?
March 8, 2024
bilby commented on the word pea-pheasant
A pleasant Pisan peasant was fined for forfeiting phased-in pheasant fees for his feisty pea-pheasant.
March 6, 2024
bilby commented on the word plant-based
"For many people, adopting a plant-based diet aligns with their personal values and beliefs. Choosing plant-based foods can be seen as a way to practice kindness and compassion towards animals, the environment, and other humans. It can also be a way to challenge the status quo and promote positive change in society."
- https://tasmaniantimes.com/2024/02/plant-based-diet-can-improve-your-health-and-lifestyle/
March 6, 2024
bilby commented on the word beardruff
"Additionally, these oils are effective in addressing dry skin issues. They act as potent moisturisers, eliminating flaky and dry skin, commonly known as 'beardruff', thereby promoting healthy skin. The moisturising properties of beard oils are not limited to the beard alone but also extend to the skin beneath."
- https://tasmaniantimes.com/2024/03/what-do-beard-oils-do/
March 6, 2024
bilby commented on the user maralason
Welcome, hope you get a lot out of the site.
March 6, 2024
bilby commented on the word gurgeon
See gurgeons.
March 4, 2024
bilby commented on the word opah
If I had one of these I'd call it Winfey.
March 4, 2024
bilby commented on the word conchus
Kooky Canuck ex-con Kane Cooke carelessly conked his conchus with a rococo coco-corn condiment container containing cocoa-coated cockroaches in coachmen's coats..
March 4, 2024
bilby commented on the word mugget
Ideal for your Lily or Entrails? list.
March 3, 2024
bilby commented on the word Saaniches
Straight from the Zamboni-Palin lunch menu.
March 2, 2024
bilby commented on the word beagling
Also hunting beagles, duh.
March 2, 2024
bilby commented on the word bastard rocket
Clearly marriage is out of fashion among rockets.
March 1, 2024
bilby commented on the word nonsked
Close but no fuflun.
March 1, 2024
bilby commented on the word cerniture
Enter upon is either archaic or legalese, I hadn't come across it before.
March 1, 2024
bilby commented on the word cerniture
I don't understand 'enter upon an inheritance'?
February 29, 2024
bilby commented on the word sked
"For the last 78 years, the Sydney to Hobart yacht race has been run on Boxing Day December 26.
This year the cannon will sound at 1pm, signalling the start of the race once again. The Rolex Sydney to Hobart yacht race commences on 26 December and ends on December 31, 2023
This year 113 entrants will race the 628 nautical mile course. The oldest vessel in this years race was built in 1932.
All radio sked frequencies and times remain the same as previous years and are listed below."
https://www.tecsunradios.com.au/store/sydney-to-hobart-yacht-race-2024-frequencies/
February 29, 2024
bilby commented on the word nonsked
Go on, rhyme this.
February 29, 2024
bilby commented on the word banstickle
A bonny banstickle banged a banned stick on a band's sticky bandstand.
February 28, 2024
bilby commented on the word BIG PIZZA
Do you like your lemurs pan-fried or wood oven?
February 28, 2024
bilby commented on the word eellike
Plausibly there is an eellike raccoonnookkeeper somewhere.
February 28, 2024
bilby commented on the word bustard
That got me thinking about Airbus, but the -bus seems to be related to conventional understandings of the word bus as a large transport vehicle.
"The name 'Airbus' was taken from a non-proprietary term used by the airline industry in the 1960s to refer to a commercial aircraft of a certain size and range, as it was linguistically-acceptable to the French." - Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Airbus
February 28, 2024
bilby commented on the word go snake
Li'l Oklahoma cameo here.
February 28, 2024
bilby commented on the word bustard
Hmmm, so the etymology of bus- reduces to something like avi- as in aviation.
February 27, 2024
bilby commented on the word iminostilbene
Train smash word.
February 26, 2024
bilby commented on the word coaster
In Tasmania, a resident of the north-west coast area.
February 26, 2024
bilby commented on the word diruption
The best words are with asunder in the definition. The end.
February 26, 2024
bilby commented on the word car parts
Sparkie Mark Parker marked aftermarket hard car parts with a pock-marked parka pocket marker at a starkly dark carpark car parts market.
February 26, 2024
bilby commented on the word mad Monday
"Media are invited to the Murray Street Pier (outside of Franklin Wharf Restaurant) to capture images of the Tasmanian Tigers celebrating their WNCL title win.
There will be an opportunity to interview members of the Tigers squad, and capture footage of the WNCL winning players in their Mad Monday costumes."
- email to media outlets from Cricket Tasmania, 26 February 2024
February 26, 2024
bilby commented on the word mad Monday
In Australia there's a tradition, recent I feel, for sporting teams to go out and party as a group on the Monday following their last game of the season. They often (fancy) dress up for a pub crawl, etc. And these kind of shenanigans are referred to as mad Monday.
February 26, 2024
bilby commented on the word prison purse
According to Urban Dictionary, a term for a vagina or anus used to smuggle contraband into prison, such as drugs or weapons.
February 26, 2024
bilby commented on the word cleck
See also clecker.
February 25, 2024
bilby commented on the word friendless man
Wow, didn't expect clicking Random word would lead me to find Donald Trump here.
February 25, 2024
bilby commented on the word coddle
Etymonline notes that the root is:
kelÉ™-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning "warm." It forms all or part of: caldera; calid; Calor; caloric; calorie; calorimeter; cauldron; caudle; chafe; chauffeur; chowder; coddle; lee; lukewarm; nonchalant; scald (v.) "afflict painfully with hot liquid or steam."
It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit carad- "harvest," literally "hot time;" Latin calor "heat," calidus "warm," calere "be hot;" Lithuanian šilti "become warm," šilus "August;" Old Norse hlær, Old English hleow "warm."
February 25, 2024
bilby commented on the word sawdon
Sawdons of Swing was never goingn to be a hit.
February 25, 2024
bilby commented on the word WORE
Of course writers can't afford transport :-/
February 25, 2024
bilby commented on the word does no one care about sheep accuracy
https://twitter.com/Kairo_Anatomika/status/1760529074722689531
February 23, 2024
bilby commented on the word base-broom
A bit rude. What if it's upwardly mobile?
February 23, 2024
bilby commented on the word fuflunnage
A tax or duty of so much per fuflun formerly imposed in Wordielandia upon all imported fufluns.
February 22, 2024
bilby commented on the word pundle
Well isn't she just a pundle of joy?
February 21, 2024
bilby commented on the word mange-mite
How many enemy mange-mites might a mightily mangy manger manager manage?
February 21, 2024
bilby commented on the word forthbear
Who's counting?
February 20, 2024
bilby commented on the list jumbo-shrimp
fathead minnow
February 20, 2024
bilby commented on the word fathead minnow
This dude and jumbo shrimp would make good companions.
February 20, 2024
bilby commented on the word oxynoticeras
Train-smash word.
February 20, 2024
bilby commented on the word orgul
IMO cognate with Italian orgolio and Spanish orgullo.
February 19, 2024
bilby commented on the word Therese
What else can you do with a Therese?
February 19, 2024
bilby commented on the word goose-house
Is this where a wild goose chase starts, or where it ends? Discuss.
February 19, 2024
bilby commented on the word bardiche
Uff, sounds nasty.
February 19, 2024
bilby commented on the word banjolin
Where's Capitano Corelli when you need him?
February 19, 2024
bilby commented on the word banjorine
Whoa, there's also banjolin.
February 19, 2024
bilby commented on the word verb
I wouldn't say it's particularly unusual. Consider grease, chair, photograph, etc. I've certainly heard shampoo as a verb.
February 19, 2024
bilby commented on the word red teamer
"We’ll be taking several important safety steps ahead of making Sora available in OpenAI’s products. We are working with red teamers — domain experts in areas like misinformation, hateful content, and bias — who will be adversarially testing the model." - OpenAI, https://openai.com/sora
February 17, 2024
bilby commented on the word ocean liners
Like pool liners, these help to keep all the water in the world's oceans and prevent leaks.
February 16, 2024
bilby commented on the word sacrificial plumed stick
See paho.
February 16, 2024
bilby commented on the word darrain
Comes from dacclouds, duh.
February 16, 2024
bilby commented on the word unwoof
*puts dog torture tools away*
February 15, 2024
bilby commented on the word tuck shop
"The Hobart City Council Planning Committee has approved a development application for a new building (food service use) for 15 Marieville Esplanade, Sandy Bay.
The application is for a shipping container to be repurposed as a tuck shop."
- https://tasmaniantimes.com/2024/02/hobart-council-approves-boaties-tuck-shop/
February 14, 2024
bilby commented on the word treacher
Also trichor.
February 14, 2024
bilby commented on the word hop-pillow
List of folk remedies?
February 14, 2024
bilby commented on the word black triangle
I tried not to snigger and failed.
February 14, 2024
bilby commented on the word stink-alive
So why not call it stink-dead?
February 14, 2024
bilby commented on the word whim-gin
TCD - 'A vertical horse-powered drum used as a hoist in a mine.'
February 14, 2024
bilby commented on the word side-oats
Do we not have any side lists?
February 14, 2024
bilby commented on the word permabans
Not as cool as Ray or even tali to be honest.
February 14, 2024
bilby commented on the word tycoon
As a child I used to get this mixed up with typhoon.
February 13, 2024
bilby commented on the word parenthesization
Despite my many flaws I have never hesized a parent.
February 13, 2024
bilby commented on the word fathermucker
See comment on mucker.
February 13, 2024
bilby commented on the word mucker
And if he had a child would he not be a fathermucker?
February 13, 2024
bilby commented on the user reecoupons
Nuclear, coal or gas?
February 13, 2024
bilby commented on the word tie-bar
There appears to be a USA political meaning that is not very obvious to me.
February 13, 2024
bilby commented on the word thiirane
Organic compound or minor Game of Thrones character?
February 13, 2024
bilby commented on the word unwoof
How?
February 13, 2024
bilby commented on the word gilingan
Wasn't there a tv series about Gilingan's Island?
February 13, 2024
bilby commented on the word weaponize my blue checkmark
Come on bilby, it's givvy-givvier-givviest.
February 11, 2024
bilby commented on the word weaponize my blue checkmark
Who else wants one while I'm feeling more givvy than a mouthy TV celeb with a bucket of car keys?
February 11, 2024
bilby commented on the word weaponize my blue checkmark
Or fuflunise it. Yeah.
February 11, 2024
bilby commented on the word weaponize my blue checkmark
You may choose to weaponise it or not.
February 11, 2024
bilby commented on the word weaponize my blue checkmark
I hereby award tankhughes a Wordnik blue checkmark.
February 11, 2024
bilby commented on the word pademelon
One time they got into my garden they chewed metre-high jerusalem artichoke plants back to just a stubble. Well I hope they farted all night.
February 9, 2024
bilby commented on the word pademelon
As I described to a friend the other day, a giant, flat-footed, ravenous pseudo-rabbit.
February 9, 2024
bilby commented on the word scutwork
I'm fairly amazed that I only came across this quite useful word for the first time today.
February 9, 2024
bilby commented on the word amphisien
If you have to decapitate something amphisien are you allowed two goes?
February 8, 2024
bilby commented on the word cod-banger
Well of course I have a list for this.
February 8, 2024
bilby commented on the word Morón
No comment!
February 8, 2024
bilby commented on the word Dutch hoe
Do you push or pull your hoe?
February 8, 2024
bilby commented on the word stonehatch
You might not be able to get blood from a stone but would you settle for a dotterel chick?
February 7, 2024
bilby commented on the word phase modulator
Set phasers to __________________
February 7, 2024
bilby commented on the word toppie
Cricket jargon: slang for top-spinner, a delivery bowled by a wrist spinner with lots of overspin.
February 7, 2024
bilby commented on the word worm family
Awww!
February 7, 2024
bilby commented on the word sexennially
Elections for our Legislative Council seats are sexennial.
February 7, 2024
bilby commented on the word Barris
You'd think at least one might be an Auberon or something.
February 7, 2024
bilby commented on the word Barris
Tacky.
February 7, 2024
bilby commented on the word featherwood
Supposedly Australian but I have never heard it.
February 7, 2024
bilby commented on the word excuse-flation
"Excuse-flation where general inflation provides camouflage for businesses to raise prices without justification is also more prevalent in the current environment. As inflation starts to fall excessive inflationary expectations and future cost increases can be built into prices."
- Allan Fels, 'Inquiry into price gouging and unfair pricing practices', 6 February 2024. https://www.actu.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/InquiryIntoPriceGouging_Report_web9-1.pdf
February 7, 2024
bilby commented on the word foeniculum dulce
i.e. fennel
February 6, 2024
bilby commented on the word baboosh
Wait, so babaganoosh is a slipper-ful of agan?
February 6, 2024
bilby commented on the word epha
Best bushel epha.
February 6, 2024
bilby commented on the word copal
Precursor to copium?
February 5, 2024
bilby commented on the word water-brash
Is there potential for a water-y list of things that are not really water?
February 5, 2024
bilby commented on the word lamium
What kind of nutlets do you prefer?
February 5, 2024
bilby commented on the word tube-union
And here was me thinking toothpastes of the world were going to get together to lobby for better wages.
February 5, 2024
bilby commented on the word dagger-plant
Maybe don't gift one to Macbeth, just saying.
February 5, 2024
bilby commented on the word mooring tower
'Trust in god but tether your airship' - proverb
February 5, 2024
bilby commented on the word pœcilonymy
Aaand it has no synonyms :-(
February 5, 2024
bilby commented on the word whatshisface
I'll never forget whatshisface, such great times we had.
February 5, 2024
bilby commented on the word hippo
Overheard joke:
What's the difference between a hippo and a Zippo?
One's quite heavy, the other's a little lighter.
February 3, 2024
bilby commented on the word mygalomorph
Anyone trying to find giant, stocky spiders can stand down as far as I'm concerned.
February 3, 2024
bilby commented on the word gruid
A crane (bird).
February 1, 2024
bilby commented on the word matapi
Also zebucan.
February 1, 2024
bilby commented on the word alyaunte
Zyghourknee Wiefyr is great in this.
February 1, 2024
bilby commented on the word escarbuncle
Ha, classy way to ascertain that your coat of arms does not feature a putrid boil leaking pus.
January 31, 2024
bilby commented on the user cuongstore
phuc Æ¡phph
January 31, 2024
bilby commented on the word gaffle
Interesting that the three TCD definitions are all quite different, yet all reek of violence.
January 31, 2024
bilby commented on the word hare
I'm kindly leaving space for y'all to make the grey hare jokes.
January 31, 2024
bilby commented on the word hare
Etymology links back to grey ...
January 31, 2024
bilby commented on the word milk-sick
See tremetol.
January 31, 2024
bilby commented on the list bird-wirds-nicknames
madge
January 31, 2024
bilby commented on the word hornpout
I see a which see!
January 30, 2024
bilby commented on the word mobot
So I still have to trim my own moustache?
January 30, 2024
bilby commented on the word The Glost World
After surprisingly acquiring a taste for porcelain biscuit, recreated dinosaurs wreak havoc on a remote island of ceramics factories.
January 30, 2024
bilby commented on the word homalonotid
Macaulay Culkin?
January 30, 2024
bilby commented on the word aquametrics
Who knew?
January 30, 2024
bilby commented on the word fiaschetta
Diminutive of fiasco.
January 30, 2024
bilby commented on the word germy
Like the buttons on a vendingmachine.
January 30, 2024
bilby commented on the word dreg
Compare dross.
January 30, 2024
bilby commented on the word berbine
"Bitter barberry berbine is better than billbeetle-bitten bulbo-tubers," babbled bilby biliously.
January 29, 2024
bilby commented on the word anilinium
Most of that definition is a foreign language :-/
January 28, 2024
bilby commented on the word maholi
*bats ears*
January 28, 2024
bilby commented on the word nonsailor
Quite a large category when you think about it.
January 28, 2024
bilby commented on the word Bobcat Goldthwait
An actor, comedian, writer, producer, etc.
January 28, 2024
bilby commented on the word echimys
Well pardon me, I was looking for improper spiny rats thank you very much.
January 27, 2024
bilby commented on the word lunch
This etymology is some ride.
January 27, 2024
bilby commented on the word snickersnee
I see a which see!
January 24, 2024
bilby commented on the user eldsolution
I usually elevate my feet with a pouffe.
January 24, 2024
bilby commented on the word stallinger
One suspects that ruzuzu is a stallinger of fufluns.
January 23, 2024
bilby commented on the word carpopodite
Tagging currently disabled :-/
January 23, 2024
bilby commented on the word carpopodite
Things that go pop!
January 23, 2024
bilby commented on the word forge-train
Also puddling-rolls.
January 23, 2024
bilby commented on the word spelling checker
Also spelling chequer :-/
January 22, 2024
bilby commented on the word compactin
Reverses the effects of expandin?
January 22, 2024
bilby commented on the word black sugar
Needs a Rolling Stones song :-/
January 22, 2024
bilby commented on the word pondokkie
Compare Malay pondok, hut.
January 21, 2024
bilby commented on the word fertile worker
I think this relates to worker ants, etc. that are usually sterile.
January 21, 2024
bilby commented on the word papuan subregion
Show me your little-explored subregions baby.
January 21, 2024
bilby commented on the word muster dog
Not to be confused with a mustard hog.
January 21, 2024
bilby commented on the word surcingle
See also wanty.
January 21, 2024
bilby commented on the word ash-key
Also kit-key.
January 21, 2024
bilby commented on the word attaint
_____ what it used to be :-/
January 21, 2024
bilby commented on the word flying fox
Main item in their diet is flying sheep.
January 21, 2024
bilby commented on the word roussette
Fox-bat, shark, etc.
January 21, 2024
bilby commented on the word dislive
I could dislive a pizza right about now.
January 17, 2024
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