Do you love getting weird looks from strangers in the grocery line? I’m talking eyebrows leaping to the hairline while their minds whirl to catch up in response to, “My! You’re so natty!”
Me neither. But if you possess an affinity for obsolete, or antiquated jargon, read on.
Wait. If you haven’t already, and you want to test your word IQ, please click on this link: Wacky Word Quiz
Everyone else, you know what to do.
Accismus:
A) Pretending to be uninterested in something that you actually want
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
Originally I’d planned on running this post yesterday, but things got a little busy and time slipped through my fingers. I apologize for any sleepless nights, or index finger twitches, that were caused by hovering over ‘Search’ buttons. 🙂
Relief has come, the veil of mystique has been pulled away.
Everyone, take a deep breathe and prepare yourselves to be dazzled!
Are you dazzled, yet?
Oh, alright, here’s the answers . . . I know you’ve got things to do.
Bumfuzzle:
A: to be confused
Tarradiddle
C: a lie
Sialoquent
B: tendency to spray saliva when speaking
Ratoon
C: small shoots that come from the roots of a plant
There, now you have received a gift, knowledge. I suggest you use this newfound power liberally, whereever you can, or just ransomly insert them into a conversation. Please have your camera ready, for you shall be rewarded with expressions like the one below.
Happy Thursday! The weekend is almost upon us, so, yay! Today, I’ve brought back the word quiz.
Those who’ve been following my blog for awhile, you know what to do. Well, not that it’s overly complicated. Quite simple really.
Each word will have four possible definitions, of course, only one will be right. You can put your guesses in the ‘Comments’ section, or not, and I’ll be back to reveal (Ta-da!) the correct one.
As before, I’ll ask each of you to practice ‘Googlestraint” (made that one up myself, my Mom is so proud . . . um, I think.) In plain English, please do not ask Google or any other ‘know-it-all’ virtual entity.
Here we go!
Bumfuzzle:
A: to be confused
B: to have social anxiety causing flatulence
C: (19th century slang) to make a huge mistake that cannot be fixed easily
D: the tuft of hair on top of a male baboon’s head
Tarradiddle
A: taking one’s sweet time at a project/activity
B: the large wheel on a cotton ginny machine
C: a lie
D: navel lint
Sialoquent
A: to speak eloquently
B: tendency to spray saliva when speaking
C: an unruly nose hair that causes irritation and embarrassment
D: to walk gracefully
Ratoon
A: (19th century slang) a derogatory term for a chewing tobacco spittoon and those who use them
B: the massive pin that connects the boon to the bucket on a tractor
C: small shoots that come from the roots of a plant
Good morning, afternoon, or whatever time you find yourself reading this post. Now, before we put our Mackinaw jackets on to prepare for the frigid climate of a wintry Yukon, I want you to stretch out. If we’re going to find some gold, then a lot of digging needs to be done.
Oh alright, we’ll just do one exercise. It’s a simple one, all you need to do is shrug and roll your eyes. Got It? Bully for you! Now repeat after me, “I am ready to “expand” my mind with useless trivia that has no practical value, whatsoever.”
Do this three times . . . now you’re in the proper mindset.
Duffer:
A: a slow-witted man
Bunco:
C: anything phony or deceptive
Barabas:
A: Indigenous homes along the lower Yukon River built half underground, inhabited in winter.
Kanin:
C: an ornately decorated dugout canoe
Now, in case your head can take more, here are some bonus words:
Cheechako: Someone new to Alaska or the Yukon; originally, a gold rush newcomer.
Sourdough (yes, it’s a type of bread, too) A person who has survived at least one winter in Alaska
Now for some cool nineteenth century slang to use at your next social(ly distanced) function:
Catawamptiously chewed up: utterly defeated
“Face it, Zena, I’ve won ten rounds of rock-paper-scissors. You have been catawamptiously chewed up.”
Catch a weasel asleep: in reference to trying to surprise a person who is always alert.
“Good luck with the surprise party for Charlie, you might as well catch a weasel asleep.”
Hornswoggle, honey-fuggled: to cheat
“Mary Anne, you’re nothing but a honey-fuggler! You’ve somehow predicted the bingo numbers.”
Wake snakes: make a lot of noise, cause a ruckus, or just have a great time.
“Let’s wake snakes with this Pampered Chef party!”
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