There are many kinds of sucker holes, but in aviation, sucker holes have killed more than a few pilots. If you're not qualified to fly on instruments and find yourself above a solid deck of clouds extending to the horizon and beyond, whilst needing to get down to visual conditions because you're low on fuel, you can be fatally lured to punch through a suddenly appearing but evanescent break in the clouds and run straight into cumulo-granite - i.e., terra firma. Don't do it! Get instrument qualified and have appropriate map resources with you.
Googie (/ˈɡuːɡi/ GOO-gee) architecture is a type of futurist architecture influenced by car culture, jets, the Space Age, and the Atomic Age. It began in Southern California with the Streamline Moderne architecture of the 1930s, and was popular nationwide during the late 1940s into the mid-1960s.(from Google search).Heard on NPR's <i>Says You!</i>.
This is a mnemonic for pi out to 25 decimal places based on a system shown in the book "Mathemagics - How To Look Like a Genius Without Really Trying."
All the integers 1 thru 9 occur in the expansion except "0". After "mame" add: "a famous Nike belle" and the next digit (the 32nd) is "0".
When a common word looks strange and ungainly. Wordnesia. "Here’s how they work: Every now and again, for no good or apparent reason, you peer at a standard, uncomplicated word in a section of text and, well, go all row-ads on it. If you’re typing, that means inexplicably blanking on how to spell something easy like cake or design. The reading version of wordnesia occurs when a common, correctly spelled word either seems as though it can’t possibly be spelled correctly, or like it’s some bizarre combination of letters you’ve never before seen—a grouping that, in some cases, you can’t even imagine being the proper way to compose the relevant term." (Mathew J.X. Malady, in Slate.com)
A sheep on its back, unable to stand upright due to the weight of wool on its back, according to NPR's Says You!. Potentially fatal if not corrected expeditiously.
The Subaru logo is an oval containing one large star and five smaller ones which represent the Pleiades or Seven Sisters (only 6 of which can be seen by the naked eye). The company was formed by the merging of six companies. Heard on NPR's Says You!.
Strange freaks these round shot play! We saw a man coming up from the rear with his full knapsack on, and some canteens of water held by the straps in his hands. He was walking slowly, and with apparent unconcern, though the iron hailed around him. A shot struck the knapsack, and it and its contents flew thirty yards in every direction; the knapsack disappeared like an egg thrown spitefully against the rock. The soldier stopped, and turned about in puzzled surprise, put up one hand to his back to assure himself that the knapsack was not there, and then walked slowly on again unharmed, with not even his coat torn.
— Franklin Aretas Haskell, The Battle of Gettysburg, 1908
This concept is brilliantly depicted in the Taoist symbol of "yin-yang". The "eyes" of the contrasting yin and yang complements represent the seed of its opposite whereby it "sees". Imagine that each eye expands until its color fills the containing yin or yang figure while a new eye, of contrasting color, emanates in the center of a new eye, and the whole process repeats indefinitely.
I've encountered a vendingmachine that certainly seemed not to be in a hurry and/or in a coma...but that eventually delivers the goods. And delicious goods they are....
Garrison Keillor touted it as a 'wonderful word' at the end of an early monologue listing complaint words on his Prairie Home Companion show this morning on NPR.
Pilots have emergency procedures manuals for every kind of aircraft and equipment malfunction. The manual is categorized into the various aircraft systems, hydraulic, electrical, flight controls, etc., for quick reference to the, sometimes extensive, troubleshooting steps that must be followed. Some of the emergencies are so critical (e.g., catastrophic engine failure) they are placed in a red-outlined frame, called a "red box" and pilots are required to commit these procedural steps to memory. During the occasion of a pilot's training and/or checkride in "the box" s/he is given a "mini-oral" designed to evaluate his/her knowledge of aircraft systems and always includes a recitation of these red box items. As the flight industry, both military and civilian has evolved over the years, the trend has been to limit the number and complexity of red box items due to the frailty of human memory. Increasingly, improvements in technology facilitate this trend. Nowadays emergency procedures are available on aircraft-provided computer-analysis and recommended actions are printed on flight deck instrument display screens. Often, many critical actions are automatically initiated by the computer brain of the affected system. It's a safe bet however, that red box items will never go away completely.
Also, boldface action. See red box items. Here's Col. Chris Hadfield's definition from his An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth: "'Boldface' is a pilot term, a magic word to describe the procedures that could, in a crisis, save your life. We say 'boldface is written in blood' because often it's created in response to an accident investigation. It highlights the series of steps that should have been taken to avoid a fatal crash, but weren't." Boldface actions, like red box items must be committed to memory, as there isn't time to refer to the emergency checklist.
The sculptural figure on top of a sarcophagus of the person inside according to NPR's Says You!. See <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gisant">more</a>.
An impossible object; an optical illusion. An Echeresque object or drawing. Here's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blivet">one.</a> According to NPR's Says You!.
Thanks for your correction; only saw it for the first time today! As a retired USAF and airline pilot (10 years, this month) this formula is a hazy recollection from USAF pilot training a lot of years ago. I've had the luxury of black boxes for my entire career after that and have never done any small aircraft flying outside that career, so thanks, again, for your clarification.
As applied to aviation: the impressive geyser of water generated behind a jet aircraft flying at high airspeed a few feet above a body of water; it's caused by the aerodynamic flow surrounding the airframe and/or the high pressure jet engine exhaust exiting at the rear of the aircraft. Image here.
Hi Bilby - Just spotted a question you posed in a comment back in 2009 (!) on my aviation list ("Let's go strap on the ole air'chine and bore holes in the sky!") to wit: "what is a 'rooster tail'?" If it still matters see image here...or, since I've added it to the list: rooster tail.
Hey, hey! Checking in. Good to see 'zu get what's coming to her! :) I only occasionally visit these days. I'll try to bring it more into my crosscheck. Toodles for now.
A plot device where something appears wildly out of context. Think of John Cleese sitting at a desk in the middle of a stream, saying: "And now for something completely different!" Heard on an NPR <i>Says You</i> show segment.
Hi Erin. Just saw this...kind of forgot about it after the first or second check back and not being sure if this was still a viable avenue of comm with you. Thanks for your reply and fixes. I'm using Chrome and Windows 8.1 OS. I also use Safari on my iPad but not so much; if I notice something there I'll advise here. One other thing: is the "hear" option going to be available on all words eventually? Some words have it, others don't, and some have no action/sound when clicked. "Hear" option notwithstanding, why isn't there a pronunciation guide for words on their respective page? I think it should be there regardless of audio availability. Or is that a can or worms too complicated and huge to re-engineer? Btw, I notice that DuckDuckGo puts wordnik at the top (and with an audio button if the wordnik presentation has one), good show! Neither Google nor Bing show wordnik at all in the first five pages of my cursory look (used 'anagnorisis'). Have a special arrangement with DuckDuck? :)
Hope your holidays were stellar. Cheerio from o. (TK)
Erin - I just discovered all my tags of yesteryears aren't listed under my profile tags. Also, I used to be able to click on a tag and all words so-tagged would appear. What use are tags now? Another thing: trying to access community page displays "bad gateway" and 'give us feedback' and 'need support' links go nowhere!. I notice my lists are described as "open" when they aren't. I'm hoping these bugs are part of the ongoing non-profit project.
The EQUATION (I + Not-I = Everything): (1) This equation describes the relationship between one person and the rest of life, and at first glance may appear simple, but is subtly complex and informative to an attentive eye, and gives an interested man a precise representation of where his consciousness stands in relationship to his overall conception of what is reality. (2) The signs: "+" and "=" should be seen as verbs in one's process of expanding their consciousness, and the words: "I" and "Everything" though apparently fixed factors, are not, they too are process, forever in flux: the "I" is not a permanent, distinct and separate thing; it is but one element in a world wide network of other "I's" which comprise a unified organism of which ordinary men are not aware, and the "Everything" which certainly by its very name seems stable, also is not, and actually grows through the extensions of the entities that compose it.
A petty thief; a pickpocket; one cleverly dextrous in an occupation or art. Also, see here for less common connotations. The book Fingersmith by Sarah Waters is an engrossing read.
Comments by oroboros
oroboros commented on the word sucker hole
There are many kinds of sucker holes, but in aviation, sucker holes have killed more than a few pilots. If you're not qualified to fly on instruments and find yourself above a solid deck of clouds extending to the horizon and beyond, whilst needing to get down to visual conditions because you're low on fuel, you can be fatally lured to punch through a suddenly appearing but evanescent break in the clouds and run straight into cumulo-granite - i.e., terra firma. Don't do it! Get instrument qualified and have appropriate map resources with you.
)
May 25, 2021
oroboros commented on the word streptonym
Neologism by cartoonist Wayno for what Wordies know as a Sweet Tooth Fairy. http://waynocartoons.blogspot.com/2011/08/whatchamacallit_11.html
May 10, 2021
oroboros commented on the word anadrome
See https://www.wordnik.com/lists/japanese-style
December 13, 2020
oroboros commented on the word ananym
See https://www.wordnik.com/lists/japanese-style
December 13, 2020
oroboros commented on the word facebooked
"Misled by the internet" - heard on NPR's Marketplace - Make Me Smart.
October 1, 2020
oroboros commented on the user vendingmachine
Congrats, T., on FA success!! :)
October 1, 2020
oroboros commented on the word pocillovy
The collecting of egg cups. https://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-poc1.htm
September 14, 2020
oroboros commented on the user magicgamer
Zat ewe, Ms. T.?
August 23, 2020
oroboros commented on the list dyslexic-s-delight
Latest palindrome series compliments of Teresa's Frog Applause. Thanks, T.! Also, credit to sionnach.
August 23, 2020
oroboros commented on the word NUMBERS
ASH-RAF / SITH-KAH / THAY-MEN / HAM-ZAH
ZAR-BOW / WAH-VEE / ROM-WAY / FEW-NON
OTH-ROK / MOR-YAH / DWA-ROW / ITH-NEW
DORKA
March 28, 2020
oroboros commented on the word tup
The weight at the end of a pendulum according to NPR's Says You!.
January 4, 2020
oroboros commented on the word zenana
The pecking order in a harem according to NPR's Says You!.
December 28, 2019
oroboros commented on the word gawsie
Plump, well fed and happy according to NPR's Says You!.
November 30, 2019
oroboros commented on the word frigilante
An employee who undertakes to police the food in the break-room fridge. From Gray Matters cartoon.
October 3, 2019
oroboros commented on the word angels' share
The amount of a spirit or wine in a cask that is lost to evaporation.
https://chambers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Chambers-Missing-Words.pdf
October 2, 2019
oroboros commented on the list balanced-words-OPDwK6GxjhLb
Idea used by Will Shortz for a puzzle on NPR's Sunday Weekend Edition program.
September 28, 2019
oroboros commented on the word honegar
A concoction of honey and apple cider vinegar thought to have curative powers according to NPR's Says You!.
September 28, 2019
oroboros commented on the word flumen
Permission to direct rainwater off one's roof onto a neighbor's property according to NPR's Says You!.
September 28, 2019
oroboros commented on the word googie
Googie (/ˈɡuːɡi/ GOO-gee) architecture is a type of futurist architecture influenced by car culture, jets, the Space Age, and the Atomic Age. It began in Southern California with the Streamline Moderne architecture of the 1930s, and was popular nationwide during the late 1940s into the mid-1960s.(from Google search).Heard on NPR's <i>Says You!</i>.
August 17, 2019
oroboros commented on the word see me pretty pretty mee-ee
Song of the white-crowned sparrow.
June 11, 2019
oroboros commented on the word threat actor
Hi Teresa!
May 7, 2019
oroboros commented on the word diz
A yarn making tool according to NPR's Says You!.
April 27, 2019
oroboros commented on the word gliffing
A brief flash of time according to NPR's Says You!.
March 23, 2019
oroboros commented on the word azygophrenia
"The psychoneurosis of everyday unmarried life, especially on the weekend." From: https://pressf1.pcworld.co.nz/showthread.php?39244-WFTWE-74-Azygophrenia-This-one-is-for-all-you-single-PF1-ers
February 10, 2019
oroboros commented on the word sedentes
People who live their whole lives close to where they were born, according to NPR's Says You!.
January 19, 2019
oroboros commented on the word gedackt
The organ pipe in a cuckoo clock, according to NPR's Says You!.
January 19, 2019
oroboros commented on the word ingle-dog
A large earthworm according to NPR's Says You!.
December 15, 2018
oroboros commented on the word ozan
A ceiling curtain in a tepee to keep moisture out and heat in, according to NPR's Says You!.
December 1, 2018
oroboros commented on the word huarizo
The offspring of a male llama and a female alpaca, according to NPR's Says You!.
October 6, 2018
oroboros commented on the word dadiah
A traditional fermented water buffalo milk popular among people of West Sumatra, according to NPR's Says You!.
July 28, 2018
oroboros commented on the word pi
"Myturtlepanchowillmylovepickupmynewmovergingermame."
This is a mnemonic for pi out to 25 decimal places based on a system shown in the book "Mathemagics - How To Look Like a Genius Without Really Trying."
All the integers 1 thru 9 occur in the expansion except "0". After "mame" add: "a famous Nike belle" and the next digit (the 32nd) is "0".
July 20, 2018
oroboros commented on the word mnemonic
New mnemonics system explained here: https://www.futilitycloset.com/2018/07/19/piphilology/
July 20, 2018
oroboros commented on the word pi
New mnemonic system for pi at: https://www.futilitycloset.com/2018/07/19/piphilology/.
July 20, 2018
oroboros commented on the word sesses
Taxes or levies; plural of cess according to NPR's Says You!.
July 14, 2018
oroboros commented on the word kainotophobia
Fear of change according to The Phrontistery.
May 26, 2018
oroboros commented on the word bigmitt
A confidence game involving dishonest card play, according to NPR's Says You!.
May 19, 2018
oroboros commented on the word doytin
To walk about, stupidly, according to NPR's Says You!.
May 7, 2018
oroboros commented on the word roo
To pluck wool from a sheep by hand, according to NPR's Says You!.
April 21, 2018
oroboros commented on the word corpen
A naval command to change the course of a ship, according to NPR's Says You!.
April 7, 2018
oroboros commented on the word skulldrag
To drag a fire hose off a firetruck manually rather than merely holding it while the truck drives off, according to NPR's Says You!.
March 24, 2018
oroboros commented on the word gulph
A diminutive person according to NPR's Says You!.
February 24, 2018
oroboros commented on the word balneary
Bathing area fed by a medicinal spring according to NPR's Says You!.
November 25, 2017
oroboros commented on the word wordnesia
When a common word looks strange and ungainly. Wordnesia. "Here’s how they work: Every now and again, for no good or apparent reason, you peer at a standard, uncomplicated word in a section of text and, well, go all row-ads on it. If you’re typing, that means inexplicably blanking on how to spell something easy like cake or design. The reading version of wordnesia occurs when a common, correctly spelled word either seems as though it can’t possibly be spelled correctly, or like it’s some bizarre combination of letters you’ve never before seen—a grouping that, in some cases, you can’t even imagine being the proper way to compose the relevant term." (Mathew J.X. Malady, in Slate.com)
October 9, 2017
oroboros commented on the word graveno
A cold in the head, according to NPR's Says You!.
September 9, 2017
oroboros commented on the word quanting
Propelling a barge or a boat with a long pole, according to NPR's Says You!.
September 2, 2017
oroboros commented on the word rigwelted
A sheep on its back, unable to stand upright due to the weight of wool on its back, according to NPR's Says You!. Potentially fatal if not corrected expeditiously.
August 19, 2017
oroboros commented on the word goyle
A steep, narrow valley according to NPR's Says You!.Conan Doyle used the variant goyal.
August 12, 2017
oroboros commented on the word boculent
Fit for drinking according to NPR's Says You!.
August 12, 2017
oroboros commented on the word dhoosh
To tweak, change, improve, spruce up, according to NPR's Says You!.
July 22, 2017
oroboros commented on the word flyak
A kayak with a hydrofoil attachment according to NPR's Says You!.
July 15, 2017
oroboros commented on the word Subaru
The Subaru logo is an oval containing one large star and five smaller ones which represent the Pleiades or Seven Sisters (only 6 of which can be seen by the naked eye). The company was formed by the merging of six companies. Heard on NPR's Says You!.
July 8, 2017
oroboros commented on the word sucket
A cutlery implement with spoon on one end and fork on the other, according to NPR's Says You!.
July 1, 2017
oroboros commented on the word tauthereeze
To mistreat something by dragging it around according to NPR's Says You!.
May 20, 2017
oroboros commented on the word flehmen
To inhale with one's upper lip curled back according to NPR's Says You!.
May 20, 2017
oroboros commented on the word gnashgab
One who when asked a question responds irritably according to NPR's Says You!.
May 13, 2017
oroboros commented on the word klebenleiben
A pathological reluctance to talk about a certain subject according to NPR's Says you!.
April 8, 2017
oroboros commented on the word rizzle
To relax after a good meal according to NPR's Says you!.
April 8, 2017
oroboros commented on the word earage
Measurement of the distance between the ears of a dog from tip to tip across the head according to NPR's Says You!.
April 1, 2017
oroboros commented on the word kamleika
Aleutian waterproof pullover shirt made of dried animal intestines according to NPR's Says You!.
February 25, 2017
oroboros commented on the word Singapore
Sin + gap + ore and sing + a + pore.
February 25, 2017
oroboros commented on the word lummy
First rate and fabulous according to NPR's <i>Says You!</i>.
February 25, 2017
oroboros commented on the word gametophobia
Fear of marriage.
February 11, 2017
oroboros commented on the word gawdelpus
One whose helplessness others find exasperating according to NPR's Says You!.
February 4, 2017
oroboros commented on the word mansion
According to realtors, a residence of 8000 or more square feet. Heard on NPR's Says You!.
January 28, 2017
oroboros commented on the word trabuco
A blunderbuss according to NPR's Says You!.
January 28, 2017
oroboros commented on the word alfet
If the wound fails to heal in 3 days it is proof of guilt, according to NPR's Says You!. A basis for "Now you're in hot water!" ?
January 21, 2017
oroboros commented on the word apostrophus
The ancient Etruscan symbol for the number 500, according to NPR's Says You!.
January 14, 2017
oroboros commented on the word aglu
A hole made in ice for breathing by seals, according to NPR's Says You!.
January 7, 2017
oroboros commented on the word poncif
Conventional or hackneyed art according to NPR's Says You!.
December 3, 2016
oroboros commented on the word bozone
The smell emitted by a clown struck by lightning? (heard on NPR's Says you!.
November 26, 2016
oroboros commented on the word rynt
To give up one's place in line to another according to NPR's Says You!.
November 26, 2016
oroboros commented on the word schiltron
A phalanx of medieval spear-carrying soldiers according to NPR's Says You!.
November 19, 2016
oroboros commented on the word punalua
A large luau involving the marriage between two families - brothers from one family to sisters of the other according to NPR's Says You!.
November 12, 2016
oroboros commented on the word zumbooruk
See also zamburak.
November 12, 2016
oroboros commented on the word zamburak
A small cannon mounted on the back of a camel according to NPR's Says You!.
November 12, 2016
oroboros commented on the word tutament
tutament
n. a means of defence; a safeguard
Strange freaks these round shot play! We saw a man coming up from the rear with his full knapsack on, and some canteens of water held by the straps in his hands. He was walking slowly, and with apparent unconcern, though the iron hailed around him. A shot struck the knapsack, and it and its contents flew thirty yards in every direction; the knapsack disappeared like an egg thrown spitefully against the rock. The soldier stopped, and turned about in puzzled surprise, put up one hand to his back to assure himself that the knapsack was not there, and then walked slowly on again unharmed, with not even his coat torn.
— Franklin Aretas Haskell, The Battle of Gettysburg, 1908
September 28, 2016
oroboros commented on the word with
An autantonym: for - "I'm with you on that." v. against - "Got into a fighting with my wife."
September 20, 2016
oroboros commented on the word eodermdrome
A word with a non-planar spelling net is called an eodermdrome, an ungainly name that itself illustrates the idea. Illustrated explanation here.
August 25, 2016
oroboros commented on the word frampold
Bad tempered or peevish according to NPR's Says You!.
July 9, 2016
oroboros commented on the word enantiodromia
This concept is brilliantly depicted in the Taoist symbol of "yin-yang". The "eyes" of the contrasting yin and yang complements represent the seed of its opposite whereby it "sees". Imagine that each eye expands until its color fills the containing yin or yang figure while a new eye, of contrasting color, emanates in the center of a new eye, and the whole process repeats indefinitely.
June 20, 2016
oroboros commented on the word yetsen
The quantity one can hold in hands cupped together according to NPR's Says You!. Edit 1/17/22 - entered in error - see yepsen.
June 18, 2016
oroboros commented on the word autoscopy
See also heautoscopy.
June 9, 2016
oroboros commented on the word heautoscopy
Out-of-body experience; Wikipedia article here.
June 9, 2016
oroboros commented on the word coma
I've encountered a vendingmachine that certainly seemed not to be in a hurry and/or in a coma...but that eventually delivers the goods. And delicious goods they are....
May 23, 2016
oroboros commented on the word whinge
Garrison Keillor touted it as a 'wonderful word' at the end of an early monologue listing complaint words on his Prairie Home Companion show this morning on NPR.
May 23, 2016
oroboros commented on the word paup
To walk about meaninglessly according to NPR's Says You!.
May 21, 2016
oroboros commented on the word scroopy
Said of silk having a crisp, rustling feel, according to NPR's Says You!.
May 9, 2016
oroboros commented on the word puggy
Moist from sweat according to NPR's Says You!.
April 30, 2016
oroboros commented on the word screef
To clear away topsoil in preparation for planting trees according to NPR's Says You!.
April 30, 2016
oroboros commented on the word officer's candy
Military: Urinal deodorizing cake.
March 19, 2016
oroboros commented on the word gone elvis
Military serviceman missing or AWOL.
March 19, 2016
oroboros commented on the word ditty-bopper
Military serviceman Morse code operator.
March 19, 2016
oroboros commented on the word make a hole
Military speak for "get out of the way".
March 19, 2016
oroboros commented on the word aestel
A decorative tool that was used to turn pages in medieval times to keep from soiling texts with dirty fingers, according to NPR's Says You!.
March 12, 2016
oroboros commented on the word redbox items
Pilots have emergency procedures manuals for every kind of aircraft and equipment malfunction. The manual is categorized into the various aircraft systems, hydraulic, electrical, flight controls, etc., for quick reference to the, sometimes extensive, troubleshooting steps that must be followed. Some of the emergencies are so critical (e.g., catastrophic engine failure) they are placed in a red-outlined frame, called a "red box" and pilots are required to commit these procedural steps to memory. During the occasion of a pilot's training and/or checkride in "the box" s/he is given a "mini-oral" designed to evaluate his/her knowledge of aircraft systems and always includes a recitation of these red box items. As the flight industry, both military and civilian has evolved over the years, the trend has been to limit the number and complexity of red box items due to the frailty of human memory. Increasingly, improvements in technology facilitate this trend. Nowadays emergency procedures are available on aircraft-provided computer-analysis and recommended actions are printed on flight deck instrument display screens. Often, many critical actions are automatically initiated by the computer brain of the affected system. It's a safe bet however, that red box items will never go away completely.
February 27, 2016
oroboros commented on the word boldface procedure
Also, boldface action. See red box items. Here's Col. Chris Hadfield's definition from his An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth: "'Boldface' is a pilot term, a magic word to describe the procedures that could, in a crisis, save your life. We say 'boldface is written in blood' because often it's created in response to an accident investigation. It highlights the series of steps that should have been taken to avoid a fatal crash, but weren't." Boldface actions, like red box items must be committed to memory, as there isn't time to refer to the emergency checklist.
February 27, 2016
oroboros commented on the word relax
Revisit L.A. International?
February 11, 2016
oroboros commented on the word alligator
all I gat or
February 10, 2016
oroboros commented on the word dormitory
Dirty room.
February 6, 2016
oroboros commented on the word blumf
A dull and grumpy person according to NPR's Says You!. Of Scottish derivation.
January 16, 2016
oroboros commented on the user Plushmeister
Howdy, DP. Your old buddy oroboros sends his bestest regards. And here's one of his favorite words: raccoonnookkeeper!
December 28, 2015
oroboros commented on the word minauderies
A coquettish air, according to NPR's Says You!.
December 19, 2015
oroboros commented on the word chevestre
See also chevaster.
December 14, 2015
oroboros commented on the word quisquous
I wonder if this word is of Native American origin?
December 2, 2015
oroboros commented on the word spulp
To collect and spread gossip; a busybody - according to NPR's Says You.
November 14, 2015
oroboros commented on the word effendi
Grammagram: FND
October 31, 2015
oroboros commented on the word gisant
The sculptural figure on top of a sarcophagus of the person inside according to NPR's Says You!. See <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gisant">more</a>.
October 31, 2015
oroboros commented on the word blivet
An impossible object; an optical illusion. An Echeresque object or drawing. Here's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blivet">one.</a> According to NPR's Says You!.
October 31, 2015
oroboros commented on the word grammagram
A word expressible phonetically as sequences of letters, e.g., opium = OPM.
October 30, 2015
oroboros commented on the word envious
A grammagram: NVS
October 30, 2015
oroboros commented on the word calcant
A person who pumps the bellows of a pipe organ before the advent of electricity (NPR's Says You).
October 17, 2015
oroboros commented on the word swinker
Someone who will do a job that no one else will, according to NPR's Says You.
September 19, 2015
oroboros commented on the word cyser
Cider with honey according to NPR's Says You.
September 12, 2015
oroboros commented on the word barbeque
See comments under barbecue for an eyeful of condiments!
August 20, 2015
oroboros commented on the word strawphylactic
The one- to two-inch portion of a straw's paper packaging left over the upper end projecting from a beverage to ensure its cleanliness/purity.
August 15, 2015
oroboros commented on the word chi
A bi-sonic: Chinese pronunciation: chee (energy); Greek: kai (Greek alphabet member).
August 6, 2015
oroboros commented on the word wizard
If you move each of its letters to the mirror position in the alphabet (A <-> Z, B <-> Y, etc.), WIZARD becomes DRAZIW. Credit: futilitycloset.com.
July 26, 2015
oroboros commented on the user sirpent
Thanks for your correction; only saw it for the first time today! As a retired USAF and airline pilot (10 years, this month) this formula is a hazy recollection from USAF pilot training a lot of years ago. I've had the luxury of black boxes for my entire career after that and have never done any small aircraft flying outside that career, so thanks, again, for your clarification.
July 14, 2015
oroboros commented on the word shotclog
An unwelcome companion tolerated only because he picks up the check, according to NPR's Says You.
July 4, 2015
oroboros commented on the word ouroboric
So, is the word nonouroboric, ouroboric?
July 3, 2015
oroboros commented on the word pilot's halo
See, also, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glory_(optical_phenomenon)">glory</a>.
July 1, 2015
oroboros commented on the word overcupensating
Getting a larger sized drink than one really wants because unable to resist the volume discount.
June 27, 2015
oroboros commented on the word life
LiFe: lithium, iron.
June 19, 2015
oroboros commented on the word rooster tail
As applied to aviation: the impressive geyser of water generated behind a jet aircraft flying at high airspeed a few feet above a body of water; it's caused by the aerodynamic flow surrounding the airframe and/or the high pressure jet engine exhaust exiting at the rear of the aircraft. Image here.
June 15, 2015
oroboros commented on the user bilby
Hi Bilby - Just spotted a question you posed in a comment back in 2009 (!) on my aviation list ("Let's go strap on the ole air'chine and bore holes in the sky!") to wit: "what is a 'rooster tail'?" If it still matters see image here...or, since I've added it to the list: rooster tail.
June 15, 2015
oroboros commented on the word Chicago
Chic ago.
June 6, 2015
oroboros commented on the word tarnation
Tar nation. Tarn at ion.
June 5, 2015
oroboros commented on the word cardamum
How a bouncer checks a mother?
May 23, 2015
oroboros commented on the word tarragon
Scarlet's nightmare?
May 23, 2015
oroboros commented on the word fudgel
To pretend to be working according to NPR's Says You.
May 23, 2015
oroboros commented on the word ylyls
Interesting the right way around as well. Slyly.
May 13, 2015
oroboros commented on the word allergese
allergese.
April 30, 2015
oroboros commented on the list are-you-sad--misparse-me
BTW, for grins: raccoonnookkeeper
April 28, 2015
oroboros commented on the list are-you-sad--misparse-me
Thanks, Tank, for the alert to this list. "Brother" came from a Bizarro cartoon. Saw 'barfly' recently in another cartoon gag.
April 28, 2015
oroboros commented on the word brother
One who makes broth.
April 27, 2015
oroboros commented on the word reprobate
Bi-sonic: morally unprincipled person vs. sending through probate again.
April 3, 2015
oroboros commented on the word resting
A bi-sonic in that kicking back sounds different than the capability of a wasp to resting.
April 3, 2015
oroboros commented on the user vendingmachine
Consider your scopes affected. De nada. As long as I was at it I effected 'em too!
March 19, 2015
oroboros commented on the list namesakes--1
dionysian
March 14, 2015
oroboros commented on the word corfhouse
Corf was used on NPR's Says You! bluffing round this week (along with callithump).
March 9, 2015
oroboros commented on the user vendingmachine
Nice detective work on 'on fleek'.
March 7, 2015
oroboros commented on the word dap
A fist bump according to NPR's Says You!.
February 28, 2015
oroboros commented on the list rectal-foreign-bodies
Some exotic, amply flaunted new socks should restore the former eclat...'tho, truth be told, there is no going back.
February 25, 2015
oroboros commented on the list rectal-foreign-bodies
He's active as heck on FB. So's 'zu and reesetee et al. I think those folks have clocks with more than 24 hours on 'em. PROLIFIC!
February 24, 2015
oroboros commented on the user vendingmachine
Hey, hey! Checking in. Good to see 'zu get what's coming to her! :) I only occasionally visit these days. I'll try to bring it more into my crosscheck. Toodles for now.
February 23, 2015
oroboros commented on the word fnord
A plot device where something appears wildly out of context. Think of John Cleese sitting at a desk in the middle of a stream, saying: "And now for something completely different!" Heard on an NPR <i>Says You</i> show segment.
February 22, 2015
oroboros commented on the word fnarr fnarr
See fnarr.
February 22, 2015
oroboros commented on the word fnarr
Lecherous, half-suppressed laughter according to NPR's Says You.
February 21, 2015
oroboros commented on the word tip
(T)o (I)nsure (P)romptness: acronym behind the name for gratuity at an eatery.
February 8, 2015
oroboros commented on the word poke-nook
An inaccessible corner of a purse according to NPR's Says You
February 8, 2015
oroboros commented on the word siren
Siren = lure vs. siren = warn away. Autoantonym
January 27, 2015
oroboros commented on the word feedback
Hi Erin. Just saw this...kind of forgot about it after the first or second check back and not being sure if this was still a viable avenue of comm with you. Thanks for your reply and fixes. I'm using Chrome and Windows 8.1 OS. I also use Safari on my iPad but not so much; if I notice something there I'll advise here. One other thing: is the "hear" option going to be available on all words eventually? Some words have it, others don't, and some have no action/sound when clicked. "Hear" option notwithstanding, why isn't there a pronunciation guide for words on their respective page? I think it should be there regardless of audio availability. Or is that a can or worms too complicated and huge to re-engineer? Btw, I notice that DuckDuckGo puts wordnik at the top (and with an audio button if the wordnik presentation has one), good show! Neither Google nor Bing show wordnik at all in the first five pages of my cursory look (used 'anagnorisis'). Have a special arrangement with DuckDuck? :)
January 12, 2015
oroboros commented on the word feedback
Erin - I just discovered all my tags of yesteryears aren't listed under my profile tags. Also, I used to be able to click on a tag and all words so-tagged would appear. What use are tags now? Another thing: trying to access community page displays "bad gateway" and 'give us feedback' and 'need support' links go nowhere!. I notice my lists are described as "open" when they aren't. I'm hoping these bugs are part of the ongoing non-profit project.
December 18, 2014
oroboros commented on the word E-force
See comments under e-force.
December 18, 2014
oroboros commented on the word I Not-I = Everything
The EQUATION (I + Not-I = Everything): (1) This equation describes the relationship between one person and the rest of life, and at first glance may appear simple, but is subtly complex and informative to an attentive eye, and gives an interested man a precise representation of where his consciousness stands in relationship to his overall conception of what is reality. (2) The signs: "+" and "=" should be seen as verbs in one's process of expanding their consciousness, and the words: "I" and "Everything" though apparently fixed factors, are not, they too are process, forever in flux: the "I" is not a permanent, distinct and separate thing; it is but one element in a world wide network of other "I's" which comprise a unified organism of which ordinary men are not aware, and the "Everything" which certainly by its very name seems stable, also is not, and actually grows through the extensions of the entities that compose it.
December 18, 2014
oroboros commented on the word fingersmith
A petty thief; a pickpocket; one cleverly dextrous in an occupation or art. Also, see here for less common connotations. The book Fingersmith by Sarah Waters is an engrossing read.
December 18, 2014
oroboros commented on the word leaven
An autoantonym: change for the better v. change for the worse. Discussion here.
November 11, 2014
oroboros commented on the word grim bribber
Original name for a lawyer, especially one who prosecutes debtors, according to NPR's Says You.
November 8, 2014
oroboros commented on the word clodhopper
A plowman, especially a hired hand on a farm, according to NPR's Says You.
November 8, 2014
oroboros commented on the word flick flack
"Flick flack motion" is how scientists describe the unique locomotion of a new species of desert spider when it is threatened.
November 4, 2014
oroboros commented on the word pappus
Peach fuzz, according to NPR's Says You.
November 1, 2014
oroboros commented on the word mird
To pry into a coworker's private life according to NPR's Says You.
November 1, 2014
oroboros commented on the word Halloween
Zombie New Year!
October 31, 2014
oroboros commented on the list any-words-list-its-open
Wow! Five year comment hiatus. Zany list!
October 31, 2014
oroboros commented on the word bloob
Slang for a blueberry muffin, according to NPR's Says You.
October 25, 2014
oroboros commented on the word plebney
Fictional disease invented by Don Martin of Mad Magazine.
October 25, 2014
oroboros commented on the word frob
To manipulate knobs and controls on an electronic object to see what they do (according to NPR's Says You).
October 25, 2014
oroboros commented on the word oxymoron
Sophomore (wise fool); cephalopod (head, foot); preposterous (pre, post); monopoly (one, many). Heard on NPR's Says You.
October 25, 2014
oroboros commented on the list fighting-words--1
Yo mama!?
October 25, 2014
oroboros commented on the word nillionaire
One having little or no money.
October 23, 2014
oroboros commented on the word feefiphobia
Fear of giants (thanks, sionnach).
October 14, 2014
oroboros commented on the word prend
A crack that has been mended, according to NPR's Says You.
October 11, 2014
oroboros commented on the word jettatore
A person who is just bad luck, according to NPR's Says You.
October 11, 2014
oroboros commented on the word octopus
Army threat? (NYT crossword puzzle clue)
October 1, 2014
oroboros commented on the word casino
Place with wheels and deals?
September 23, 2014
oroboros commented on the word behead
Top off?
September 23, 2014
oroboros commented on the word petrichor
Words within words: pet + rich + or
September 12, 2014
oroboros commented on the user Grawlix
Thanks, Grawlix. I used yummy mummy. Good luck with the book. Perhaps a second edition is in order?
September 7, 2014
oroboros commented on the list double-trouble
@Gralix: perhaps a second edition is in order? :)
September 7, 2014
oroboros commented on the word Janus-word
An autoantonym.
August 23, 2014
oroboros commented on the word peer
Janus-word: peer as an equal vs. peer as an elite, a superior.
August 23, 2014
oroboros commented on the word upholster
Change one letter to make it a different word with the same definition, viz.: "to cover, in a way".
Answer here.
August 16, 2014
oroboros commented on the word gnu
Mastroianni & Heart's wordplay
August 14, 2014
oroboros commented on the word euphemism
J.C.Duffy's take.
August 14, 2014
oroboros commented on the word acidically
A sharp friend?
August 1, 2014
oroboros commented on the word hobber
A quoit or horseshoe that leans against a peg in a pitching game according to NPR's Says You.
July 26, 2014
oroboros commented on the word dodecaphony
<a href="http://assets.amuniversal.com/6b9330a0edeb01317e0d005056a9545d">Pluggers 'toon</a>.
July 26, 2014
oroboros commented on the word webtrovert
An extrovert, but only via the internet, not in person.
July 19, 2014
oroboros commented on the word facebook minute
A period of time longer than a minute when you log on to FB planning on spending only a minute.
July 19, 2014
oroboros commented on the word factoid
See also truthiness.
July 11, 2014
oroboros commented on the word truthiness
Related to factoid.
July 11, 2014
oroboros commented on the word grassture
Seen in a <a href="http://assets.amuniversal.com/397923d0d2fd013167b1005056a9545d">Peanuts cartoon</a>.
July 3, 2014
oroboros commented on the word trank
The palm area of a glove according to NPR's Says You.
June 28, 2014
oroboros commented on the word rastral
A 5-pointed drawing device to draw the musical staff on a blackboard according to NPR's Says You.
June 28, 2014
oroboros commented on the word octothorpe
Barney & Clyde
June 23, 2014
oroboros commented on the word grilxe
A young salmon spawning for the first time according to NPR's Says You.
June 21, 2014
oroboros commented on the word nibby
Interfering,pushy,intrusive, overly inquisitive according to NPR's Says You.
June 21, 2014
oroboros commented on the word elocable
Easily fooled by flattery according to NPR's Says You.
May 31, 2014
oroboros commented on the word analphabetapolothologist
Madeupical cartoon word
May 21, 2014
oroboros commented on the word draw
Autantonym: extract vs. attract
May 8, 2014
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