Wacky Word Quiz

Well, the earth’s rotated many times since I’ve last posted one of these. I thought it might be time to open that bulging door under constant strain against the clutter. It guards the tomb of antiquities, commonly known as the storage closet.  

Here goes. Ouch! Mind the bowling ball . . . cue the slapstick canned laughter. Now where is it? Oh, yes, there it is! I see the yellowed and curled corner of the pages belonging to the, ‘Dictionary of Oddity’s.’ It’s lying just beneath my sister’s possessed Teddy Ruxpin (batteries not needed) . . . “Your kids will love it! Pleeeeease, just take it!”

An ‘80’s lawn dart has staked it’s one pound metal spike through the bruin’s heart, but good old Teddy bears it with a grin. With trembling hands, I yank out the dart and cast the slow cackling beast and spear into the garage, where lawnmowers go to die.

The dart has punched a hole right through a warning label at the page’s header. ‘Do—- use these words in real life.’ I know it’s missing a word and some letters, but the dart has spoken.

Just a few things to refresh some memories or if you’ve never played: please try to avoid looking up the words/ enter the letter of your guesses in the comments/ I will be back in a day or so with the answers/ have fun!

On your mark, get set . . . bang! Now read and type, really fast!

Fartlek

A: an activity runners do when they switch between sprinting and jogging

B: to renege on a deal after secretly negotiating another offer from a different party

C: an obsolete measurement used in England to determine the distance between dales

D: eighteenth century slang term for a pickpocket

Bumber Shoot

A: another term for the water shoots on a Banyan Tree

B: nineteenth century expression for an incompetent person

C: umbrella

D: the game of dice from which Yahtzee was derived

Abecedarian

A: someone who is of the belief that portholes to other earthly realms exist

B: an uncommon term from the middle-ages used to describe an aristocrat who turns his/her back on their birthright in exchange for the life of a commoner

C: an obscure religious sect that archeologists believe may have lived and worshipped in the Tibetan Mountains

D: anyone currently learning the alphabet

Skirl

A: the loud wailing sound produced by bagpipes

B: the behind-the-heel toe tap dance move performed in Hasapiko Dancing

C: the stitching used to secure the lace to a 1920′ era Flapper Cloche Hat

D: to curtsy in a clumsy manner

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Word Trivia Answers Revealed

Back in the middle of September I set up a little word quiz here. I included some of the most waggish terms that can easily befuddle even the most sagacious word smiths.

Now, you could altercate that what’s typed here is mere trumpery from an old pettifogger, and therefore not worth the binary code that was used to form the letters, but truly, who doesn’t like the odd bit of trivia?

You’ll find a review of the quiz below. Those who have not yet undertaken the challenge have been accommodated, as I have refrained from revealing the correct answers until the end. To those who’ve already participated and practiced Googlestraint (ya, I just made that up), I thank you for playing and for your abstinence. However, I lament that this format is a decoy to lure you far down the page, and thus closer to the ‘Like’ button.

I’m sorry to say that this time my daughter, vexed by her existing ‘mono-cookie’ contract, and failing in her attempts to have me ratify a ‘multi-’, decided that the world needed more Crayola unicorns than word pictures.

Nonetheless, onwards to the review and impartation.

Snollygoster:

A: Someone who is unwanted and shunned at social gatherings because of their habit of creating tension.

B: A monster that lives in sump pump wells and is the true cause of those terrifying gargling sounds. The “logical” people claim the noise is caused by the activation of the pump.

C: A politician who does or says things for personal gain.

Wabbit:

A: A term for being exhausted.

B: What Elmer Fudd calls Bugs Bunny.

C: A type of metal used to make wheel bearings.

Nudiustertian:

A: One who adheres to a hedonist lifestyle, for whom ‘everything goes’.

B: A word for the day before yesterday.

C: A mundane occurrence.

Abibliophobia:

A: The fear of bibs.

B: The fear of running out of reading material.

C: The fear of libraries.

Here is what’s ‘On the beam’:

Snollygoster:

C: A politician who does or says things for personal gain.

Wabbit:

A: A term for being exhausted.

Nudiustertian:

B: A word for the day before yesterday. Not as much fun as it sounds, is it?

Abibliophobia:

B: The fear of running out of reading material. I think most of us can relate to this one.

And as a bonus:

Bibble: The sounds of people eating/drinking noisily. This can be especially bothersome if you suffer from misophonia, which is the strong negative feelings, thoughts, and physical reactions to  “trigger sounds”.

Ratoon: The small shoot that comes from the root of a plant.

Bumfuzzle: A state of confusion. This term is so fitting for this article.

So, you have the meanings, take a bow if you knew most of them off hand . . . you are a true crackerjack!

Thanks for playing! Remember, a day without learning something new is humdrum.