'Mother Tongue' odd words

[SusanDoris]

Here's a piece of rather useless info!!
The word properispomenon'means: a word which has a circomflex accent on the penultimate syllable!!


I googled its definition and this link came up:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/properispomenon

I'm sure that's made your day!!   But the one that's more useful is 'myoclonic jerk' which is the name for that jerk of a leg muscle just as you're going to sleep and which wakes you up thinking you are falling.


I read 'Mother Tongue' (and 'Made in America') many years ago and it is my current braille book.

[john]

MY FAVOURITE ODD WORD

Anatidaephobia

Anatidaephobia is defined as a pervasive, irrational fear that one is being watched by a duck. The anatidaephobic individual fears that no matter where they are or what they are doing, a duck watches.

Anatidaephobia is derived from the Greek word "anatidae", meaning ducks, geese or swans and "phobos" meaning fear.

Anatidaephobia an irrational fear that one is being watched by a duck. The anatidaephobic individual fears that no matter where they are or what they are doing....a duck watches!
John 'Can’t shake this feeling that there is a duck watching me today, think I’m suffering from Anatidaephobia'

*looks outside the window*

*Menacing duck looking back with shifty eyes'

No wonder I can't sleep.

[SqueakyVoice]

Shouldn't anatidaephobia be just a fear of ducks?

Anatidaescopophobia would be a fear of being watched by ducks.

[Sebastian Toe]

Floccinaucinihilipilification
The action or habit of estimating something as worthless.

eg
TW participates in the floccinaucinihilipilification process regularly, with regard to evolutionary theory, along with Spud they seem to be the forum mumpsimuses on the subject.
Although TW's appearances here are becoming thankfully fugacious.

 

[ippy]

The darker patch of sky always present between the bows of a double rainbow is known as: Alexander’s Band, named after the Greek Alexander Aphrodisias.

The Clumpton list: Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert and Grubb.   

Circe: another name for a vamp or temptress.

Clemed: old English for starved.

Shibboleth: A word used as a test for detecting people from another district or country by their pronunciation of a word or a sound very difficult for foreigners to pronounce correctly and lots more.

The painter El Greko’s actual name: Domenikos Theotokopoulos, thus El Greko.

A Lit: an old English word for a bat, (the flying kind).

Plumbago: old English for graphite.

Loppers: the pull out bars that support the drop down flap of a bureau.

Stribulation: the noise made by crickets.

Hummerdrews, (phonetic spelling): Noises that are not easily identified.


From my collection of words I pick up from time to time.

I'll apologise in advance for any spelling errors, not one of my string points.

Got loads of collective nouns, all filed under a Pete & Dud like tone of voice, "Did You Know".   

ippy

[SusanDoris]

It's a pity we don't have more opportunities to use all the interesting words above. The trouble is, of course, that if the opportunity did arise, we'd find that we'd forgotten the required word. Ah, well!

[Rhiannon]

I love the word ululate. Not one I have call to use very often.

[Rhiannon]

And sidereal - 'of the stars'. Don't use that one either but just knowing it exists makes me glad.

[Leonard James]

I love the word ululate. Not one I have call to use very often.

No doubt when you get to hell you will have more cause to use it! 

[Gordon]

The Clumpton list: Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert and Grubb.   

It's 'Trumpton', but more worryingly what has happened to Dibble?

[ippy]

It's 'Trumpton', but more worryingly what has happened to Dibble?

You're right, I don't know how I managed to miss that one, the Clumpton lot are my brothers contribution, to our familie's taste for reasonably amusing but usless facts, words etc.

Don't forget to always use the train spotters tone of voice when and if you feel the need to pass on any of these overwhelmingly interesting but usless facts.

I've noticed that you don't see so many yagies on the skylines of our towns any more, I just wondered if you had noticed as well?

ippy

[Rhiannon]

I overheard my daughter explaining to her American friend what a barker was, and why our town council once tried to ban one.

[ekim]

It's 'Trumpton', but more worryingly what has happened to Dibble?

He became a police officer in Top Cat.

[Gordon]

You're right, I don't know how I managed to miss that one, the Clumpton lot are my brothers contribution, to our familie's taste for reasonably amusing but usless facts, words etc.

Don't forget to always use the train spotters tone of voice when and if you feel the need to pass on any of these overwhelmingly interesting but usless facts.

I've noticed that you don't see so many yagies on the skylines of our towns any more, I just wondered if you had noticed as well?

ippy

I was concerned for Dibble's welfare: he's a fireman y'know: which is a dangerous occupation. 

P.S note the smiley: I wasn't being serious earlier and thought you might have guessed that.

[Gonnagle]

Dear Susan,

Susurration, a low murmur, one of Terry Pratchett's favourite words.

Gonnagle.

[Gordon]

He became a police officer in Top Cat.

So he did: perhaps he was always a Yank, I mean we never did hear his native accent in Trumpton.

[Aruntraveller]

I don't know why but I have always loved the word 'antimacassar'.

Not a word you can casually slip into conversation that easily.

[ekim]

There used to be some odd 'truce' words used by children in games which seems to vary across the country.  In one area it was 'fainites', in another 'scribs', somewhere else it was 'cree' or 'barley'.

[Rhiannon]

I don't know why but I have always loved the word 'antimacassar'.

Not a word you can casually slip into conversation that easily.

You can still buy vintage antimacassars at markets and on eBay.

Can you still get macassar oil though?

[Rhiannon]

Pelisse. I'd like to have one.

[ippy]

Dear Susan,

Susurration, a low murmur, one of Terry Pratchett's favourite words.

Gonnagle.

That could be one of those hummerdrews, you never know?

ippy zero

[ippy]

I was concerned for Dibble's welfare: he's a fireman y'know: which is a dangerous occupation. 

P.S note the smiley: I wasn't being serious earlier and thought you might have guessed that.

Any of these usless but interesting facts are a serious matter, it's only the others that don't take them seriously; I'm sure you'll have noticed.

ippy

[bluehillside Retd.]

Hi Rhi,

And sidereal - 'of the stars'. Don't use that one either but just knowing it exists makes me glad.

Oh dear. I've already corrected this one on a different thread:

http://www.religionethics.co.uk/index.php?topic=11359.msg578970#msg578970

You're welcome 

[ippy]

You can still buy vintage antimacassars at markets and on eBay.

Can you still get macassar oil though?

There's a lot of people against it.

ippy

[wigginhall]

There used to be some odd 'truce' words used by children in games which seems to vary across the country.  In one area it was 'fainites', in another 'scribs', somewhere else it was 'cree' or 'barley'.

I think they were collected by the Opies in their 'Lore and Language of Schoolchildren'.   They said that truce words were the most important for children, and also that adults don't use them.   Well, I say to my wife, 'barley bungalow', when she is thrashing me with a besom.

Many regional variations, e.g. fainites used to be common in London.   And some towns had their own truce words.  I wonder if they have died out?  Maybe not, because they are also used just to take a break, e.g. to have a pee in the middle of a game.   Just say, 'the referee's a wanker'.