GAME: Word of the Day (WOTD)

[voralfred]

I get many calls from telemarketers. I don't find these people cuddlesome at all, and I suspect they are all proles. I am an aginer with respect to this practice, and these calls do make me a bit cranky and morose but contrary to some people I know, I do not consider these calls as a daily catastrophe, just a minor displeasure, since I cut them short in a few seconds. "I am not interested. Bye"

[Algot Runeman]

canard

/kəˈnɑːd/ /ˈkanɑːd/
noun
1 An unfounded rumour or story.
2 A small winglike projection attached to an aircraft forward of the main wing to provide extra stability or control, sometimes replacing the tail.

Origin
Mid 19th century from French, literally ‘duck’, also ‘hoax’, from Old French caner ‘to quack’.

==========

Jeff shared the vicious canard about Sarah with Paul. Nothing good came of it.

[Algot Runeman]

bottomless

/ˈbɒtəmlɪs/
adjective
1 Without a bottom.
1.1 Very deep.
1.2 (of a supply of money or other resources) inexhaustible.
2 Naked below the waist.

==========

We must not behave as if there were a bottomless supply of petroleum in the world.

[Algot Runeman]

barranca

/bəˈraŋkə/
(also barranco)
noun
barrancas, barrancos
US
A narrow, winding river gorge.

Origin
Late 17th century from Spanish.

==========

Bob built a bridge over the barranca to avoid driving an extra ten miles to reach his ranch.

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

barranca

To avoid losing my footing on the slippery surface, falling and hurting myself,
I've installed no barrancas, but two bar anchors in my shower stall.

Spoiler: show

[Algot Runeman]

tarmac

/ˈtɑːmak/
noun
mass noun
1 trademark in UK Material used for surfacing roads or other outdoor areas, consisting of broken stone mixed with tar.
1.1 the tarmacA runway or other area surfaced with tarmac or a similar material.
verb
tarmacs, tarmacking, tarmacked
[with object]
Surface (a road or other outdoor area) with tarmac or a similar material.

Origin
Early 20th century abbreviation of tarmacadam.

==========

The systems for using macadam to surface major roads in the US have progressed to the point that a fleet of equipment can strip a worn surface and replace it in a continuous, fluid operation, disrupting traffic for as little as a day or two.



[For what it's worth, Lexico continues to provide the definitions in place of ODO, apparently using the same algorithms for picking random words. Today's beautiful sounding mellifluous has, unfortunately, been used as a focus twice before, so we move on.]

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

tarmac

So tarmac has nothing to do with Mac being tarred and feathered?

[voralfred]

tarmac

So tarmac has nothing to do with Mac being tarred and feathered?

I would argue that it might have to do with Mac Adam being tarred and feathered if I weren't afraid of being subjected tot the same fate....

[Algot Runeman]

It sounds as if voralfred and EPS are both searching for concrete solutions to the question of tarmac. There is a stretch of one of the superhighways going into eastern Pennsylvania which was originally made with poured concrete. It has since been coated with what the US industry calls asphalt, fundamentally equal to tarmac, from what I can tell.

In spite of that, a ride along that section of roadway produces a steady "ka-lunk, ka-lunk) as the car's tires hit the slightly raised margins of each successive, slightly tilted concrete plate.

It is an experience to be missed!

[E Pericoloso Sporgersi]

... a ride along that section of roadway produces a steady "ka-lunk, ka-lunk) as the car's tires hit the slightly raised margins of each successive, slightly tilted concrete plate. ...

You remind me of the repeated crack-attack of long railroad cars.
Sleep-inducing to some, not so much to most.

Here's an interesting CGI animation about the maintenance of railroad tracks:

Spoiler: show

[Algot Runeman]

scooch
(also scootch)

/skuːtʃ/
verb
[with object]
1 North American informal - Crouch or squat.
2 North American informal - Move in or pass through a tight or narrow space.
2.1 Move a short distance, especially while seated.

Origin
Mid 19th century origin unknown.

==========

Jenny and Sue scooched over to make room for Sally on the couch. They planned to gossip all night while the boys hovered around them.

[Algot Runeman]

terrine

/təˈriːn/
noun
1 A meat, fish, or vegetable mixture that has been cooked or otherwise prepared in advance and allowed to cool or set in its container, typically served in slices.
mass noun ‘wedges of terrine’
1.1 A container used for a terrine, typically of an oblong shape and made of earthenware.

Origin
Early 18th century (denoting a tureen): from French, literally ‘large earthenware pot’, from terrin ‘earthen’. Compare with tureen.

==========

I suppose peach cobbler, served cold does not qualify as a terrine. Still, I've never developed a taste for pork pie.

[Algot Runeman]

abrogate

/ˈabrəɡeɪt/
verb
[with object]
formal
1 Repeal or do away with (a law, right, or formal agreement)
2 Evade (a responsibility or duty)

Origin
Early 16th century from Latin abrogat- ‘repealed’, from the verb abrogare, from ab- ‘away, from’ + rogare ‘propose a law’.

==========

It is far too late
A slur, to abrogate,
The moment it is said.

Take care to edit thought
Before you speak aught.
Avoid "cutting him dead".

Withhold harsh words,
Even you nerds.
Or friendship will have fled.

The chance to love
Close like a glove,
Will certainly be dead.

[Algot Runeman]

claustral

/ˈklɔːstr(ə)l/
adjective
1 Relating to a cloister or religious house.
2 literary Enveloping; confining.

Origin
Late Middle English from late Latin claustralis, from Latin claustrum ‘lock, enclosed place’ (see cloister).

==========

After being in a very religious school, Marie developed a claustral phobia and became a free spirit as an adult.

[Algot Runeman]

false-flag

/fɒls/ /flaɡ/
noun
1 A flag flown to disguise the true identity or affiliation of a ship.
2 usually as modifier A political or military act orchestrated in such a way that it appears to have been carried out by a party that is not in fact responsible.

==========

Bob fooled absolutely nobody when he threw a false-flag into the illustration of vexillology which was the word offered by the dictionary today.



[Some will say I have cheated by using a two-word term, but I felt cheated by the dictionary algorithm offering vexillology again. I'd already done the flag illustration before checking the archives. Bah! I wasn't about to start all over. In my defense, the dictionary offers the definition. Look it up yourself. Grump. Grouse. Grumble. Phooey!]

[voralfred]

claustral

/ˈklɔːstr(ə)l/
adjective
1 Relating to a cloister or religious house.
2 literary Enveloping; confining.

Origin
Late Middle English from late Latin claustralis, from Latin claustrum ‘lock, enclosed place’ (see cloister).

==========

After being in a very religious school, Marie developed a claustral phobia and became a free spirit as an adult.

(...)

I hope she did not develop an astral phobia. Who knows what kind of spirit she might become after death ?



Incidentally, I immediately recognized the EU flag at the center of your vexillology post (did I ever tell you I am color-blind ?)
The soviet flag does not correspond to a presently existing country, but it did at some time in the past.
So the false flag is the one at the bottom left ? Lebanon's cedar in the upper left corner of a british commonwealth-type of flag ?

[Algot Runeman]

Apologies to vexillologists-in-residence, and even you silent, fly-by experts, I had not intended to challenge you with color confusion. The center flag from yesterday is bright yellow and the red stars are not oriented all vertical as in the flag of the EU.

For the sake of contrast, I've attempted to show the two flags together, with my version of the official EU flag, below.

[Algot Runeman]

soupçon

/ˈsuːpsɒn/ /ˈsuːpsɒ̃/
noun
A very small quantity of something.

Origin
Mid 18th century French, from Old French souspeçon, from medieval Latin suspectio (see suspicion).

==========

My parents, worldly to a fault, admonished me at the dinner table, "Even if you don't like what is served, you must eat a soupçon of soup, son."

[voralfred]

I did have a vague suspicion ("soupçon", in french - note the "cédille" under the c) that there was maybe a soupçon too much yellow in that flag !

[Algot Runeman]

zugzwang

/ˈzʌɡzwaŋ/ /ˈzuːɡzwaŋ/
noun
mass noun
Chess
A situation in which the obligation to make a move in one's turn is a serious, often decisive, disadvantage.

Origin
Early 20th century from German Zug ‘move’ + Zwang ‘compulsion’.

==========

To a pawn, life's inevitable zugzwang comes with no particular public notice.

[voralfred]

Considering that chess is a model of real life, you have put us (EPS and me) in a Zugzwang situation : how can we escape posting something in response, even if we are unable to match your own efforts ?

[Algot Runeman]

Ha, ha, ha!

You are trapped. You will never match my posts, but exceed, overtop, outdo, certainly!

You are, after all, nobility on the forum, not mere pawns.

[Algot Runeman]

wynn

/wɪn/
(also wyn)
noun
A runic letter, used in Old and Middle English, later replaced by w.
‘The modern English wine comes from Old English wn, pronounced like modern ‘wean’: that indeed was how Chaucer pronounced his wyn, but Shakespeare's pronunciation was closer to our own.’

Origin
Old English, literally ‘joy’; so named because it is the first letter of this word. Compare with thorn (sense 3) and ash (sense 2).

==========

Wally whined, wimpishly when he missed out on his evening glass of wine. No wynn (joy) for him.



[The forum's search does not allow us to check on four letter words, but I hope this one has not been used before...I have a "thing" for runes. Just check my name.]

[Algot Runeman]

glister

/ˈɡlɪstə/
verb
[with object] - literary
Sparkle; glitter.
noun
literary
A sparkle.

Origin
Late Middle English probably from Middle Low German glistern or Middle Dutch glisteren.

==========

After the dalliance with her sister.
(Because he just couldn't resist her),
Frank's wife left to stay with Mamma,
Flouncing off with lots of drama.
He realized that he missed her,
So he bribed her home with glister.
It was not long before he dissed her.
So she found another mister.

[Algot Runeman]

creed

/kriːd/
noun
1 A system of religious belief; a faith.
1.1 often "the Creed" - A formal statement of Christian beliefs, especially the Apostles' Creed or the Nicene Creed.
1.2 A set of beliefs or aims which guide someone's actions.

Origin
Old English, from Latin credo.

==========

He thought she was pretty.
She thought he was witty.
But families with no shared creed.
An edict: "No marriage" was decreed.