adjective
[attributive] North American informal
of or associated with small, remote, and insignificant rural settlements:some jerkwater town
Origin:
mid 19th century: from jerk1 + water, from the need for early railroad engines to be supplied with water in remote areas, by dipping a bucket into a stream and “jerking” it out by rope
Every two days, John visited the jerkwater town of Salsberry, once headed west and then back east. He never knew it, though. For him, it was just a trellis bridge and a good stream for engine water.
When I read the word "jerkwater" I immediately guessed the meaning.
But I imagined a completely different etymology.
"backwater" is often used (six times in the Vorkosigan Saga by our resident author LMB) as a synonym for "backcountry", "an isolated and under-developed region"
Now from the sophisticated perspective of some urbanites, the inhabitants of a sufficiently isolated backwater town could only be jerks, justification enough to call such a place a jerkwater town
Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)
Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2013 2:33 am
by E Pericoloso Sporgersi
Algot Runeman wrote:spitchcock
...
"Eew," said Sally. "I thought we were going to skip having to deal with spitchcock which was YESTERDAY's WotD."
[Yes, we know, Sally. The verbal variation can encounter delays when the word guy is on the road. Sorry you are uncomfortable, too. We will move on without any photo, in deference to your discomfort.]
Are you saying that Rooster Cogburn was in hot pursuit to spatchcock the word guy because he had spitchcocked eels from Rooster's own brook?
Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)
Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2013 2:57 am
by E Pericoloso Sporgersi
Algot Runeman wrote:pandect
A pandect [phone] is a global DECT phone that automatically switches its configuration to comply with all local DECT frequency ranges, protocols and regulations.
I wonder with geophagy, especially if the ingested dirt is chalk, whether the effect is partially useful as an antacid.
Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)
Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 8:59 am
by Algot Runeman
decoherence
noun
In quantum mechanics, quantum decoherence is the loss of coherence or ordering of the phase angles between the components of a system in a quantum superposition.
Carl spoke incoherently about decoherence. His skills were difficult to quantify, in any case. Carl went through phases during which he tried to get an angle and advantage over his competitors. He was usually sidelined as an unneeded component of any job in which he took part. He never occupied a super position, relegated to the most limted mechanics of the task.
[Sometimes I feel just like Carl. I need somebody to define the definition. I am reading 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson from which I've taken today's WotD. I wonder how much he understands about what he is writing.]
Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)
Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 12:24 pm
by E Pericoloso Sporgersi
Algot Runeman wrote:decoherence
My grandma was quite familiar with decoherence. Though not directly.
I mean that she very carefully inspected all her furs. If any showed the slightest coherence of its hair, she immediately took it to her furrier to have it cleaned.
She used to say that the man was a fur decoherence wizard.
Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)
Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 6:31 am
by Algot Runeman
chemtrail
Pronunciation: /ˈkemˌtrāl/
noun
a visible trail left in the sky by an aircraft and believed by some to consist of chemical or biological agents released as part of a covert operation.
Origin:
1990s: blend of chemical and trail, on the pattern of contrail
"General Adams, could you please describe to me the covert nature of this operation?"
The President stared at the general, waiting, as he watched the video of the chemtrails over the enemy capital.
Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)
Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 6:10 pm
by MidasKnight
E Pericoloso Sporgersi wrote:
Algot Runeman wrote:centrist
...
A similar question: Are competitive archers striving to be centrists?
Maybe they just like to be the centre of attention?
I'm sure Robin of Locksley loved being the centrist surrounded by swooning maidens.
So happy my IBDOF title is in the WOTD thread!!
Yay for thinkers!!
Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)
Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 6:49 am
by E Pericoloso Sporgersi
MidasKnight wrote:
E Pericoloso Sporgersi wrote:
I'm sure Robin of Locksley loved being the centrist surrounded by swooning maidens.
So happy my IBDOF title is in the WOTD thread!!
Yay for thinkers!!
So you're a present-day Robin Hood, eh?
I'm glad that centrist breed isn't extinct!
Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)
Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 7:36 am
by Algot Runeman
polyhedron
Pronunciation: /ˌpäliˈhēdrən/
noun (plural polyhedrons or polyhedra /-ˈhēdrə/)
Geometry
a solid figure with many plane faces, typically more than six.
Origin:
late 16th century: from Greek poluedron, neuter (used as a noun) of poluedros 'many-sided'
⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥⛥
Starr deeply wished to be a Polly but the group had requirements she could not satisfy. The Pollys of Hedron College demanded a multi-sided individual, preferring polymaths over experts in any one field. Starr, sadly was only good up to pentagonal perspectives. True polyhedra perplexed her. The Dough Deca Hedron social club did court her, though, because she COULD bake and then decorate cakes.
Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)
Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 8:44 am
by E Pericoloso Sporgersi
Algot Runeman wrote:polyhedron
A Large Polyhedron Collider doesn't exist (yet).
Though a sidewalk collision with Dolly Parton might make one think otherwise.
Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)
Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2013 8:20 am
by Algot Runeman
A propros decoherence from a few days back, science and a capella fans can combine while watching and listening to this YouTube Video.
[Convergence of WotD with other stuff is always fascinating to me.]
Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)
Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2013 8:37 am
by Algot Runeman
florilegium
Pronunciation: /ˌflôrəˈlējēəm/
noun (plural florilegia /-ˈlējēə/ or florilegiums)
a collection of literary extracts; an anthology.
Origin:
early 17th century: modern Latin, literally 'bouquet' (from Latin flos, flor- 'flower' + legere 'gather'), translation of Greek anthologion (see anthology)
Adam was actually adroit in spite of being gauche. There wasn't a position in baseball which he couldn't play perfectly.
Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2013 12:07 pm
by E Pericoloso Sporgersi
Algot Runeman wrote:gauche
If you'd ask me, I'd say that drawing, with its right hand's fingers chopped off, is not dexterous, but both gauche and sinister, even leftist ...
Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)
Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2013 5:39 am
by Algot Runeman
scaramouch
Pronunciation: /ˈskarəˌmo͞oSH, -ˌmo͞oCH/
noun
archaic
a boastful but cowardly person.
Origin:
mid 17th century: from Italian Scaramuccia, the name of a stock character in Italian farce, from scaramuccia 'skirmish', ultimately from the same Germanic base as skirmish
Is it strange to anybody else that an equilibrist, a person who walks high above the ground across a narrow wire, tenuously balanced, isn't thought of as "unbalanced"?
Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)
Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2013 2:02 pm
by E Pericoloso Sporgersi
Algot Runeman wrote:equilibrist
How do you crossbreed an equilibrist with a ventriloquist?
Balance him on her tummy?
Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)
Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 7:48 am
by Algot Runeman
stapes
Pronunciation: /ˈstāpēz/
noun (plural same)
Anatomy
a small stirrup-shaped bone in the middle ear, transmitting vibrations from the incus to the inner ear. Also called stirrup.
Origin:
mid 17th century: modern Latin, from medieval Latin stapes 'stirrup'
Carl didn't intend to stir up trouble. He wanted the country's goal to stay peace. Sadly the others in the legislature were all missing their stapes, so his pleas fell on deaf ears. War!
Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)
Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 11:24 am
by E Pericoloso Sporgersi
Algot Runeman wrote:stapes
"Stay peas!" murmured Jack. Then again out loud, "Stay peas!".
He tried repeatedly, each time raising his voice louder and louder, "STAY PEAS!", but the peas just didn't stay put and kept rolling down the hill.
Rummaging in his pockets for any remaining peas and a final desperate attempt, he accidentally dropped a few beans. Lo and behold, a beanstalk sprouted on the spot and grew high up in the sky.
Oh well, a peastalk wouldn't have held his weight anyway.
Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)
Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 11:38 am
by Algot Runeman
Nicely said EPS.
["Stay, Peas" might have worked if Peas had been a dog. Pets with paws have been known to pause on demand.
When I was a kid, it took more than a voice command to control the horse I rode (not my own, just one used at a summer camp).
I needed the stirrups of steel, leather and wood to brace my feet while hauling the reins to get the equine beast to pause, especially if there was a bucket of oats waiting in the stable.]
Re: GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)
Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 7:49 am
by Algot Runeman
gentry
Pronunciation: /ˈjentrē/
noun
(often the gentry)
people of good social position, specifically (in the UK) the class of people next below the nobility in position and birth:a member of the landed gentry
[with adjective] people of a specified class or group:a New Orleans family of Creole gentry
Origin:
late Middle English (in the sense 'superiority of birth or rank'): from Anglo-Norman French genterie, based on gentil (see gentle1)
Many novels written in the 1800s examined the question of whether entering by the back door and exiting from the front could make a person part of the gentry.