GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

[Algot Runeman]

polliwog

noun
1 North American & dialect a tadpole.
2 North American informal a new sailor, especially one crossing the equator for the first time.

Origin:
late Middle English (earlier as pollywiggle): from poll in the sense ‘head’ + the verb wiggle


alumroot on Flickr

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Now, if only the cute polliwog had a sailor's hat on, the photo would stand well for both definitions.
MidasKnight, your preferences for the completeness of definitions may have influenced the people over at Oxford Dictionaries

[MidasKnight]

Yes, I'm sure I was the main influence there. Thanks for the implication of power.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

You are correct. First prize, MidasKnight. The WotD, as listed, was only the first of several definitions. That's the way it came. I'm not sure why.

Yes, I also thought the punt entry lacked a complete definition.

It was also a method of propulsion and cargo transportation, though I'm not sure they called it that. In the days of Davy Crockett, the punters walked the boat from under them, literally.

See them in action here.

When I was a boy, Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier, was one of my favourite movies. But besides lacking a boat, not to mention no parental permission , my buddies and I preferred riding horses (broomsticks) anyway, because punting really seemed much too exhausting and boring to try ourselves.

[MidasKnight]

The 'punt' I'm thinking of we use a lot at work and it is related to the football term (to kick to the other team). We say we will punt something if we don't have enough information to solve an issue. We 'punt' the question back to the client.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

The 'punt' I'm thinking of we use a lot at work and it is related to the football term (to kick to the other team). We say we will punt something if we don't have enough information to solve an issue. We 'punt' the question back to the client.

So if you "punt", you "pass the buck", right?

[MidasKnight]

lol ...

nice pun.

but ... no, passing the buck is subtley different. Punting occurs because you can't resolve it on your own whereas passing the buck means you choose to not handle something that you could/should.

[Algot Runeman]

Less commonly the non-hunters among us "pass the buck" instead of shooting it. Interestingly, I still want as much "doe [dough, money]" as I can gather legally.

In spite of not being a hunter, I frequently "shoot the bull" with friends.

[MidasKnight]

I miss Brad.

[Algot Runeman]

reiki

noun
[mass noun]
a healing technique based on the principle that the therapist can channel energy into the patient by means of touch, to activate the natural healing processes of the patient's body and restore physical and emotional well-being.

Origin:
Japanese, literally 'universal life energy'


anomalous4 on Flickr

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There is no doubt in my mind. Just reaching across the bed to touch my wife's arm can drain my daily concerns entirely. If that is reiki, I'm a fan.

I, for one, am looking forward to hearing from E.P.S. about his grandmother's most notable reiki experience.

[Algot Runeman]

tonsorial

adjective
formal or humorous
relating to hairdressing: she'd had her customary go at me over tonsorial neglect

Derivatives
tonsorially
adverb

Origin:
early 19th century: from Latin tonsorius (from tonsor 'barber', from tondere 'shear, clip') + -al


Tom Ba on Flickr

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Tonsorial liberty is my desire. For me, it is easier, not even a visit to the tonsor. 3/8 inch attachment on the clipper. Zip, zip, zip, done. No comb, no mirror, no problem. No pony tail, dreds, 'fro, pompadour, mullet, bouffant; no "style" at all. No bald-making razor, no bowl and scissors. Fabulous freedom, that's all.


felibrilu on Flickr
Noli me tangere [touch me not] --> Noli me tondere [clip me not]

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

reiki
...
There is no doubt in my mind. Just reaching across the bed to touch my wife's arm can drain my daily concerns entirely. If that is reiki, I'm a fan.

I, for one, am looking forward to hearing from E.P.S. about his grandmother's most notable reiki experience.

Okay. You asked for it. Don't go running to the hills (Hiram is still there).

Somewhen around 1925, my grands visited Finland. Grandma's fur couturier had given her the address and an introduction to a Finnish fur trader. The trader and his wife welcomed my grands very heartily indeed. Especially the two girls became intimate friends in a matter of days.

One day, after a sauna's icy cold bath in the nude, the Finnish woman invited grandma to model Finnish and Sami fur coats. Still in the nude; "To get warm", she claimed. Fortunately their sizes closely matched, so of course grandma returned the favour with her own clothes she had with her, silks, furs and all. The giggling women had a blast, not to mention the appreciatively onlooking trader and grandpa.

Grandma also learned a few tricks to sneak up on grandpa and suddenly jolt him with a fur-generated electrostatic discharge.

Grandma kept corresponding with her Finnish friend, up to exchanging naughty pictures of women's clothing, furry, diaphanous or anything sexy.

You can rest assured that grandma knew all about this WotD.
Her distant friend's name was Reiki Furronen.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

tonsorial
...

The first time I saw an ad for a "Tonsorial Parlor" (I was 10 or so), I asked my mom if she had taken me there to have my tonsils removed (when I was 5).

[Algot Runeman]

E.P.S. has tonsils removed by Reiki Furronen.
Finished!

[Algot Runeman]

repast

noun
formal
a meal: a sumptuous repast

Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French, based on late Latin repascere, from re- (expressing intensive force) + pascere 'to feed'


P373 on Flickr

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I have trouble with the word "meal." Try as I might it bothers me when a waiter says, "Enjoy your meal," right after serving the final plate. Every time, I think of a plate full of boiled corn meal, or some equally dull gruel. I wish waiters would say repast instead.

It'll never happen.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

repast

Yummy!

When are you going to invite us (the WotD-regulars) to such a hefty looking repast?

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Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French, based on late Latin repascere, from re- (expressing intensive force) + pascere 'to feed'

Why do those dictionary guys go for complicated explanations?
The modern French word for 'repast' is simply 'repas'. Why draw Latin into it?

Example: The table above is set with "un repas costaud".

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MS Word 2003 still is more than sufficient for my needs. I like it. But it has an idiosyncrasy whose sense or purpose I don't understand.

I'm used to copying and pasteing with the mouse. But in Word's "Save as" dialogue window that doesn't work. It always forces me to repaste with [Ctrl] + [V]. I wonder why.

[Algot Runeman]

E.P.S. As a former Windows user, I commiserate with you.

For what it is worth, I'm a fan of the keyboard and love Ctrl+V for paste along with all sorts of other keyboard shortcuts. I don't use them all, but the ones that have frequent daily use are as familiar as the key positions themselves. No mouse, whenever possible.

[Algot Runeman]

dudgeon

noun
[mass noun]
a feeling of offence or deep resentment: the manager walked out in high dudgeon

Origin:
late 16th century: of unknown origin


geekandpoke

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Walking out in high dudgeon may result in...absolutely nothing. Offense is in the mind of the offended.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

dudgeon
...
Walking out in high dudgeon may result in...absolutely nothing. Offense is in the mind of the offended.

In a flaming dudgeon, the curmudgeon hit his opponent with a bludgeon and, with not a smidgeon of mercy, threw him in the dungeon.

[Algot Runeman]

In a flaming dudgeon, the curmudgeon hit his opponent with a bludgeon and, with not a smidgeon of mercy, threw him in the dungeon.

[Algot Runeman]

froideur

noun
coolness or reserve between people.

Origin:
French, from froid 'cold'


American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter on Flickr

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Our crowded world is rife with froideur. Beyond 150 people, our capacity for real relationships declines rapidly. Few people smile at strangers in a crowd. Oxford Dictionaries Online doesn't list chaudeur as a word. Apparently there is no need for a word (from France) expressing warmth between people. In current slang, I hear "That's cold, man." I don't hear anybody saying, "That's warm, man!"

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

froideur
noun
coolness or reserve between people.
...
Apparently there is no need for a word (from France) expressing warmth between people. In current slang, I hear "That's cold, man." I don't hear anybody saying, "That's warm, man!"

In the supermarket's bakery section a total stranger smiled at me and asked the difference between the 3 kinds of croissants on sale.

After I had explained it to her, the pretty young woman thanked me with chaleur.

When she had moved on, the boy picking some buns next to me muttered "Man, she's hot!", echoing my unspoken thoughts.

[Algot Runeman]

I am glad to be corrected, kindly as always.

Chaleur, then, is the warm opposite of froideur, not my fumbled French, chaudeur.

The French, I see, who known for keeping their international cool are also just as warm as E.P.S. grandmama in one of her furs.

[For what it is worth, Oxford Dictionaries Online doesn't show a definition for chaleur, either.]

[Algot Runeman]

philharmonic

adjective
devoted to music (chiefly used in the names of orchestras): the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Origin:
mid 18th century: from French philharmonique, from Italian filarmonico 'loving harmony' (see phil-, harmonic)


lucasfranco on Flickr

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Phil wanted to sing with his honey, Harmony. Unfortunately much as he loved music, he had a squeaky voice. Fortunately, that didn't keep him from reading music, and he became a renouned pianist, qualified for the local philharmonic orchestra and accompanied Harmony's operatic arias, effectively accomplishing his dreams.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

philharmonic
adjective
devoted to music (chiefly used in the names of orchestras): the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
...

At 50 performers it's a philharmonic orchesta, between 50 and 100 it's philmarmonicer and with more than 100 it's philmarmonicest.

Astérix's village had a parade band of 12, officially called Philharmonix, but nicknamed Cacophonix in daily parlance.

[laurie]

I actually knew a guy in high school named Philip Robert Monick, AKA Phil R. Monick.

His nickname was Maestro.