Funny Word of the Day

Where Have I Been?

2012-02-02T19:23:00.000-08:00

It's been an entire year since I've officially blogged on FWOTD, though I've periodically posted funny words on Facebook and Twitter during that time. Last January, I came out with a book, Be Your Own Best Publicist: How to Use PR Techniques to Get Noticed, Hired and Rewarded at Work, and have spent much of my time promoting the book through press, speaking engagements, my blog on BeYourOwnBestPublicist.com and Forbes.com (not to mention my full-time job running PR at Hearst Magazines!).

So I hope you'll forgive me for neglecting this blog. I can't promise I'll be able to regularly post here but I'll do my darnedest (that's a pretty funny word, no?)...

Funny Word of the Day:

vag·a·bond

[vag-uh-bond] Show IPA

adjective

wandering from place to place without any settled home;nomadic: a vagabond tribe.

leading an unsettled or carefree life.

disreputable; worthless; shiftless.

of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a vagabond: vagabondhabits.

having an uncertain or irregular course or direction: avagabond voyage.

This is how I feel when I don't go to the gym...

2011-01-30T18:11:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: feeble

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

fee·ble

adj \ˈfē-bəl\

a : markedly lacking in strengthb : indicating weakness

a : deficient in qualities or resources that indicate vigor, authority, force, or efficiency

What a Slouch!

2011-01-30T18:07:00.001-08:00

funny word of the day: slouch

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

SLOUCH

a : an awkward fellow : loutb : one that is unimpressive; especially : a lazy or incompetent person —used in negative constructions slouch at cooking>

: a gait or posture characterized by an ungainly stooping of the head and shoulders or excessive relaxation of body muscles

Munch Away

2011-01-11T20:18:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: munch

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

munch

transitive verb

: to eat with a chewing action munched in private — Washington Irving>; also : to snack on munched homemade cookies — Lady Bird Johnson>

intransitive verb

: to eat or chew something; also : snack —usually used with on

— munch·er noun

Break Out the Bubbly

2010-12-31T07:23:00.000-08:00

So one of my resolutions for 2011 is to try to post FWOTDs more often...but I've been a little preoccupied gearing up for the release of my first book (sadly, it's not Funny Word of the Day-related!). It's called Be Your Own Best Publicist: How to Use PR Techniques to Get Noticed, Hired & Rewarded at Work (Career Press, Jan. 20, 2011), a career guide of sorts for anyone looking to stand out in the workplace. I co-wrote it with a good friend, Meryl Weinsaft Cooper, and we're very excited. Please support us by buying a copy and visiting our website and blog and following us on Twitter (@bestpublicist).

So, in honor of New Year's Eve, my favorite word of the day is bubbly.

Here's to some good bubbly tonight and a bubbly 2011!

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

Definition of BUBBLY

: full of bubbles : effervescent bubbly bottle of pop>

: full of or showing good spirits : lively, effusive

: resembling a bubble bubbly dome>

I'm so behind on this blog, it's not funny!

2010-11-30T06:28:00.000-08:00

Apologies to anyone who follows this blog for being MIA. As you may know, I had a baby girl 9 mos ago and then started writing my first book, Be Your Own Best Publicist: How to Use PR Techniques to Get Noticed, Hired & Rewarded at Work, which comes out Jan. 20, 2011 (you can pre-order a copy now!) so my time has been taken up with those two endeavors, not to mention my full time job. However, I have been trying to post FWOTDs on Twitter and Facebook on occasion.

To catch you up on the last few...

Thanksgiving: yams

Nov. 14: swoop

Nov. 12: blimp

Today's FWOTD: cubbyhole

Definition from Merriam-Webster: a small snug place (as for hiding or storage); also : a cramped space

Remember in elementary school, when every student would get a cubbyhole to put his or her belongings?

You are so wizard

2010-09-04T19:03:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: wizard

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

wizard (noun)

archaic : a wise man : sage

: one skilled in magic : sorcerer

: a very clever or skillful person wizards>

(verb)

archaic : having magical influence or power

archaic : of or relating to wizardry : enchanted

chiefly British : worthy of the highest praise : excellent

Or, from the Online Slang dictionary:

used to indicate that something is cool. Originated in Britain, popularized in modern slang by the movie Juno.

Wizards have played a part in some really good movies, including Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, The Wizard of Oz, Excalibur and Juno. And sometimes they're funny (even if they don't mean to be).

Oh, where does the time go?

2010-08-31T08:47:00.000-07:00

If anyone's still reading my blog (ahem), I have to apologize for not posting very often. With a 6 month old daughter, a busy job and a book due tomorrow to my publisher (aaack!), I've been fairly preoccupied.

However, that does not mean I have not been using and thinking of funny words all the time. So...here's the latest:

funny word of the day: quaff

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

: to drink deeply

transitive verb

: to drink (a beverage) deeply

— quaff noun

— quaff·er noun

Examples of QUAFF

We stopped at a bar and quaffed a few beers.
car out of the snowdrift, we were ready to quaff some hot chocolate>

My own example: Once I hand in the manuscript for my book, BE YOUR OWN BEST PUBLICIST: How to Use PR Techniques to Get Noticed, Hired and Rewarded at Work, written with my talented friend and co-author Meryl Weinsaft Cooper, I will definitely be quaffing some wine or Champagne in celebration!

Does anyone actually use this word?

2010-07-31T18:49:00.000-07:00

Funny word of the day: fussbudget

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

fuss·bud·get

Pronunciation: \ˈfəs-ˌbə-jət\

Function: noun

Date: circa 1904

: one who fusses or is fussy especially about trifles

— fuss·bud·gety \-jə-tē\ adjective

NOTE: Sorry that I haven't posted in ages. Between caring for a 5 1/2 mo. old baby, dealing with a busy work schedule and working on a book that comes out in January (not about funny words, alas), I have not had much time to post. Thanks for your patience!

Har!

2010-04-30T10:30:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: scallywag

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

scal·a·wag

Variant(s): or scal·ly·wag \ˈska-li-ˌwag\

Function: noun

Etymology: origin unknown

Date: circa 1848

1 : scamp, reprobate
2 : a white Southerner acting in support of the reconstruction governments after the American Civil War often for private gain

I think scallywag can also be used to refer to a pirate. I learned this word from a song about pirates that I hear on the Toddles Tunes station on my TV that I now listen to every day with Emma. What has become of my life?

A Long Hiatus...

2010-04-30T08:39:00.000-07:00

Apologies to anyone who follows my blog. I had a beautiful baby girl named Emma on Feb. 18th and I've been a little busy since then! I've been sporadically posting FWOTDs on Facebook and Twitter but haven't had a chance to blog. So here's a quick update...here are all the words I've done in the past few months:

funny word of the day (really should be of the month these days!): gumbo 1:50 PM Apr 21st
funny word of the day: raccoon 7:31 PM Apr 9th
funny word of the day: clog 9:58 PM Apr 8th
funny word of the day: curd 6:56 PM Apr 6th
Funny word of the day: kugel (happy Passover!) 3:59 PM Mar 29th
funny word of the day: jester 9:47 PM Mar 28th
funny word of the day: skirmish 4:11 PM Mar 26th
funny word of the day: hefty 4:43 PM Mar 25th
funny word of the day: trample 2:54 PM Mar 21st
funny word of the day: bundle 9:13 AM Mar 19th
funny word of the day: gaga 9:08 PM Mar 16th
funny word of the day: fidget 9:59 PM Mar 15th
funny word of the day: blooper 12:49 PM Mar 11th
funny word of the day: snookered 8:02 PM Mar 6th
funny word of the day: puny 3:14 PM Mar 5th
funny word of the day: boobs (I'll stop with the baby-related words soon, don't worry!) 5:58 PM Mar 4th
funny word of the day: squirt 12:37 PM Mar 3rd
Apologies for not posting funny word of the day for a while -- I had a baby and she's taken priority! 1:12 PM Mar 2nd
funny word of the day: umbilical 1:11 PM Mar 2nd
funny word of the day: swaddle 7:02 PM Feb 23rd
Funny word of the day: poop 7:57 PM Feb 20th
Funny word of the day: placenta 6:32 PM Feb 18th
funny word of the day: womb (yes, I have baby on the brain!) / more at http://www.funnywordoftheday.com/ 6:54 PM Feb 17th via web

No, That is Not a Picture of My Baby

2010-02-17T15:49:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: womb

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

womb

Pronunciation: \ˈwüm\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English wamb, womb, from Old English; akin to Old High German wamba belly

Date: before 12th century

1 : uterus
2 a : a cavity or space that resembles a womb in containing and enveloping b : a place where something is generated

— wombed \ˈwümd\ adjective

As you may have guessed, at 38 weeks pregnant I have baby on the brain! When the little one arrives, I may have to take a hiatus from posting funny words of the day -- or it may become more like funny word of the week (or month depending how needy this kid is)!

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T17:50:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: aphrodisiac

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

aph·ro·di·si·ac

Pronunciation: \ˌa-frə-ˈdē-zē-ˌak, -ˈdi-zē-\

Function: noun

Etymology: Greek aphrodisiakos sexual, gem with aphrodisiac properties, from aphrodisia heterosexual pleasures, from neuter plural of aphrodisios of Aphrodite, from Aphroditē

Date: 1719

1 : an agent (as a food or drug) that arouses or is held to arouse sexual desire
2 : something that excites

— aphrodisiac also aph·ro·di·si·a·cal \ˌa-frə-di-ˈsī-ə-kəl, -ˈzī-\ adjective

Me So Corny!

2010-02-12T14:04:00.000-08:00

Today's FWOTD: corny

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

1corny
Pronunciation: \ˈkȯr-nē\ Function: adjective Inflected Form(s): corn·i·er; corn·i·est Date: 14th century 1 archaic : tasting strongly of malt 2 : of or relating to corn 3 : mawkishly old-fashioned : tiresomely simple and sentimental — corn·i·ly \ˈkȯr-nə-lē\ adverb — corn·i·ness \ˈkȯr-nē-nəs\ noun

2corny Function: adjective Inflected Form(s): corn·i·er; corn·i·est Date: 1689 : relating to or having corns on the feet
Ew. The 2nd definition is really gross.

I haven't had time to post on the blog but here are the funny words you may have missed:

2/11: fetus

2/10: doofus

2/9: chirp

2/8: jumbo

Sounds Like an Old Jewish Lady Who Smokes

2010-02-06T14:09:00.001-08:00

funny word of the day: fern

From Wikipedia:

A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants ^[3]. Unlike mosses they have xylem and phloem (making them vascular plants). They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants. Ferns do not have either seeds or flowers (they reproduce via spores).

By far the largest group of ferns are the leptosporangiate ferns, but ferns as defined here (also called monilophytes) include horsetails, whisk ferns, marattioid ferns, and ophioglossoid ferns. The term pteridophyte also refers to ferns (and possibly other seedless vascular plants; see classification section below).

Ferns first appear in the fossil record in the Carboniferous but many of the current families and species did not appear until roughly the late Cretaceous (after flowering plants came to dominate many environments).

Ferns are not of major economic importance, but some are grown or gathered for food, as ornamental plants, or for remediating contaminated soils. Some are significant weeds. They also feature in mythology, medicine, and art.

But I think it's funny because it reminds me of a leathery-tan, chain-smoking yenta who wears hot pink lipstick and introduces herself in a gravelly voice, "Fern here. Let's tawk."

They're Not Your Ilk

2010-02-04T14:25:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: ilk

Defintion from Merriam-Webster:

¹ilk

Pronunciation: \ˈilk\

Function: pronoun

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English ilca, from *i- that, the same (akin to Gothic is he, Latin, he, that) + *lik- form (whence Old English līc body) — more at iterate, like

Date: before 12th century

chiefly Scottish : same —used with that especially in the names of landed families

²ilk

Function: noun

Date: 1790

: sort, kind

Funnier than Butterfly

2010-02-02T14:26:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: pupa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pupa of the Cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha)

A pupa (Latin pupa for doll, pl: pupae or pupas) is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation. The pupal stage is found only in holometabolous insects, those that undergo a complete metamorphosis, going through four life stages; embryo, larva, pupa and imago.

Pupation may be brief, for example 2 weeks as in monarch butterflies, or the pupa may enter dormancy or diapause until the appropriate season for the adult insect (in temperate climate pupae usually stay dormant during winter, in the tropics pupae usually do so during the dry season). Pupation may last weeks, months or even years. Anise Swallowtails sometimes emerge after years as a chrysalis.

Eager Beaver

2010-01-27T14:40:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: beaver

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

: ¹bea·ver

Pronunciation: \ˈbē-vər\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural beavers

Etymology: Middle English bever, from Old English beofor; akin to Old High German bibar beaver, and probably to Old English brūn brown — more at brown

Date: before 12th century

1 or plural beaver a : either of two large semiaquatic herbivorous rodents comprising a family (Castoridae including Castor canadensis of North America and C. fiber of Eurasia), having webbed hind feet and a broad flat scaly tail, and constructing dams and partially submerged lodges b : the fur or pelt of the beaver
2 a : a hat made of beaver fur or a fabric imitation b : silk hat
3 : a heavy fabric of felted wool or of cotton napped on both sides
4 usually vulgar : the pudenda of a woman

²beaver

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English baviere, from Middle French

Date: 15th century

1 : a piece of armor protecting the lower part of the face
2 : a helmet visor

Here are the FWOTDs from the past four days:

1/26 - gumption
1/25 - twerp
1/24 - dabble
1/23 - plop

I've decided to make a sentence out of them, as well as today's:

That twerp had the gumption to plop down next to me and ask me if, like him, I dabble in extramarital affairs and that he'd really like to see my beaver. Needless to say, I slapped him and ran away very fast.

It's Exhausting

2010-01-22T14:28:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: muffler

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

muf·fler

Pronunciation: \ˈmə-flər\

Function: noun

Date: circa 1536

1 a : a scarf worn around the neck b : something that hides or disguises
2 : a device to deaden noise; especially : one forming part of the exhaust system of an automotive vehicle

— muf·flered adjective

In high school, I drove a 1980 Datsun 310GX hatchback. I bought it from my sister for $107 and, though it was a clunker, it got me around (barely). One day I heard a really loud scraping sound and when I pulled into a parking lot, a man told me that my muffler was hanging off the back of my car and hitting the ground when I drove. It was completely rusted. My mechanic warned me not to drive more than 10 miles from my home in that car. But I kind of miss it now that I don't have a car at all.

You Dirty (Musk)rat

2010-01-19T14:29:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: muskrat

From Wikipedia:

The muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), the only species in genus Ondatra, is a medium-sized semi-aquatic rodent native to North America, and introduced in parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. The muskrat is found in wetlands and is a very successful animal over a wide range of climates and habitats. It plays an important role in nature and is a resource of food and fur for humans, as well as being an introduced species in much of its present range.

The muskrat is the largest species in the subfamily Arvicolinae; which includes 142 other species of rodents, mostly voles and lemmings. Muskrats are called "rats" in a general sense because they are medium-sized rodents with an adaptable lifestyle and an omnivorous diet. They are not, however, so-called "true rats", that is members of the genus Rattus.

The muskrat's name comes from the two scent glands which are found near its tail; they give off a strong "musky" odor which the muskrat uses to mark its territory.

Gross. I'm not a fan of anything that has "rat" in its name or resembles a rat. Even squirrels, which people think are cute, are really just tree rats (at least that's what my mom always told me growing up). The only muskrat I like is a Muppet-like character named Heddy Muskrat in the Jim Henson special "Emmett Otter's Jugband Christmas," a modern-day musical fable based on The Gift of the Magi that is still one of my favorite holiday programs. Too bad my husband and I are virtually the only people who have ever seen it. I highly recommend it.

What a Boob!

2010-01-16T16:39:00.001-08:00

funny word of the day: boob

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

¹boob

Pronunciation: \ˈbüb\

Function: noun

Etymology: short for ¹booby

Date: 1907

1 : a stupid awkward person : simpleton
2 : boor, philistine

— boob·ish \ˈbü-bish\ adjective

²boob

Function: noun

Etymology: ³boob

Date: 1934

British : mistake, blunder

Yesterday's FWOTD: snuggle

snug·gle

Pronunciation: \ˈsnə-gəl\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): snug·gled; snug·gling \-g(ə-)liŋ\

Etymology: frequentative of ¹snug

Date: 1687

intransitive verb : to curl up comfortably or cozilytransitive verb 1 : to draw close especially for comfort or in affection
2 : to make snug

— snuggle noun

Oh, Baloney!

2010-01-12T15:12:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: baloney

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

¹baloney variant of bologna

²ba·lo·ney

Variant(s): also bo·lo·ney \bə-ˈlō-nē\

Function: noun

Etymology: bologna

Date: 1922

: pretentious nonsense : bunkum —often used as a generalized expression of disagreement

As a food, I absolutely hate baloney. It may be because when I was a little girl and had an exceedingly high fever, I hallucinated that there was a piece of green baloney crawling up my wall. That was enough to make it an off-limits deli meat for the rest of my life.

However, I did like the song in the Oscar Meyer commercial that went "My baloney has a first name, it's O-S-C-A-R..." If you don't know it, here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmPRHJd3uHI

By the way, you can also spell baloney "bologna" but it's funnier the other way.

She Doesn't Have All Her Marbles

2010-01-11T16:37:00.001-08:00

funny word of the day: marble

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

mar·ble

Pronunciation: \ˈmär-bəl\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French marbre, from Latin marmor, from Greek marmaros

Date: 12th century

1 a : limestone that is more or less crystallized by metamorphism, that ranges from granular to compact in texture, that is capable of taking a high polish, and that is used especially in architecture and sculpture b : something (as a piece of sculpture) composed of or made from marble c : something suggesting marble (as in hardness, coldness, or smoothness)
2 a : a little ball made of a hard substance (as glass) and used in various games b plural but sing in constr : any of several games played with these little balls c plural : the rewards to be won in competition especially for a championship —used in the phrase all the marbles s>
3 : marbling
4 plural : elements of common sense; especially : sanity s — Arthur Miller>

— marble adjective

I always liked the feel of marbles and had some when I was little, not really sure why since I never learned to play the game. In fact, I don't know anyone who actually plays marbles but if you're interested in ordering some, check out this site: http://www.marblesmarbles.com/

Aren't You Saucy?

2010-01-08T14:40:00.001-08:00

funny word of the day: saucy

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

saucy

Pronunciation: \ˈsȯ-sē, ˈsa-\

Function: adjective

Inflected Form(s): sauc·i·er; sauc·i·est

Date: 1508

1 : served with or having the consistency of sauce
2 a : impertinently bold and impudent b : amusingly forward and flippant : irrepressible
3 : smart, trim

— sauc·i·ly \-sə-lē\ adverb

— sauc·i·ness \-sē-nəs\ noun

I especially like how Merriam-Webster uses the phrase "a saucy little hat" as an example. When have you ever heard anyone say that?

The Humpty Hump

2010-01-06T14:22:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: hump

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

¹hump

Pronunciation: \ˈhəmp\

Function: noun

Etymology: akin to Middle Low German hump bump, Dutch homp lump, chunk, Frisian homp, himp

Date: 1681

1 : a rounded protuberance: as a : humpback 1 b : a fleshy protuberance on the back of an animal (as a camel, bison, or whale) c (1) : mound, hummock (2) : mountain, range
2 British : a fit of depression or sulking
3 : a difficult, trying, or critical phase or obstacle —often used in the phrase over the hump

— humped adjective

²hump

Function: verb

Date: circa 1785

transitive verb 1 often vulgar : to copulate with
2 : to exert (oneself) vigorously
3 : to make humpbacked : hunch
4 chiefly British : to put or carry on the back : lug; also : transport intransitive verb 1 : to exert oneself : hustle
2 : to move swiftly : race

It Warms My Cockles

2010-01-05T14:46:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: cockle

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

¹cock·le

Pronunciation: \ˈkä-kəl\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English coccel

Date: before 12th century

: any of several weedy plants of the pink family; especially : corn cockle

²cockle

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English cokille, from Middle French coquille shell, modification of Latin conchylia, plural of conchylium, from Greek konchylion, from konchē conch

Date: 14th century

1 : any of various chiefly marine bivalve mollusks (family Cardiidae) having a shell with convex radially ribbed valves; especially : a common edible European bivalve (Cerastoderma edule syn. Cardium edule)
2 : cockleshell

³cockle

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English kokell, ultimately from Middle French coquillé wavy or rounded like a shell, from coquille

Date: 15th century

: pucker, wrinkle

— cockle verb

Growing up I always heard the below phrase and had no idea what it meant. Now I do -- and it just warms the cockles of my heart!

cockles of the heart

Etymology: perhaps from ²cockle

Date: 1671

: the core of one's being —usually used in the phrase warm the cockles of the heart

What Ever Happened to Shemp?

2010-01-04T13:29:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: stooge

From Wikipedia:

A stooge is generally defined as a person that is under the control of another. Being called a stooge is not a form of praise. Stooge can also sometimes be used to mean "idiot".

Stooge (missile), an early surface-to-air missile
Stooge (comedian), a member of a comedy double act who feeds lines to the other comedian
Stooge, a confederate who acts as if s/he is one of the spectators, in a magic trick or a confidence trick, very much like a shill
Stooge sort, a recursive sorting algorithm
Stooge, a term in Australian slang where one has been ripped off eg. "He stooged me for five bucks"

Stooges may refer to:

Three Stooges, a comedy group from the 1930s to the 1970s
The Stooges, a late 1960s and early 1970s rock band

My husband came up with this one and I have to agree that it's funny, especially the Three Stooges. Nyuck, nyuck, nyuck!

The Opposite of Classy?

2010-01-03T15:16:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: trashy

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

trashy

Pronunciation: \ˈtra-shē\

Function: adjective

Inflected Form(s): trash·i·er; trash·i·est

Date: circa 1620

1 : being, resembling, or containing trash : of inferior quality
2 : indecent

— trash·i·ly \-shə-lē\ adverb

— trash·i·ness noun

Ahoy, Matie!

2010-01-02T17:15:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: seaman

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

sea·man

Pronunciation: \ˈsē-mən\

Function: noun

Date: before 12th century

1 : sailor, mariner
2 a : any of the three ranks below petty officer in the navy or coast guard b : an enlisted man in the navy or coast guard ranking above a seaman apprentice and below a petty officer

This word is the unfortunate synonym for another funny word (c'mon, you can figure it out) and the seaman's uniform can be funny too. However, it doesn't mean I don't have the utmost respect for the fine men who serve in our Navy. Really. I just prefer to call them sailors.

What I Feel Like Right Now

2010-01-01T13:58:00.001-08:00

funny word of the day: blimp

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

blimp

Pronunciation: \ˈblimp\

Function: noun

Etymology: imitative; perhaps from the sound made by striking the gas bag with the thumb

Date: 1916

1 : an airship that maintains its form by pressure from contained gas
2 capitalized : colonel blimp

I wanted to pick a word that had relevance to New Year's Day but I couldn't think of one. I figure there are probably some blimps flying over the various Bowl games today so it was good enough. Here's to a great 2010 filled with lots of funny words!

Want Some Gummy Bears? They've Been in My Pocket

2009-12-31T13:19:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: gummy

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

gum·my

Pronunciation: \ˈgə-mē\

Function: adjective

Inflected Form(s): gum·mi·er; gum·mi·est

Date: 14th century

1 : viscous, sticky
2 a : consisting of or containing gum b : covered with gum

— gum·mi·ness noun

My favorite kind of candy is the gummy kind -- Gummy Bears (Haribo are best), gummy peaches, Sour Patch Kids and Swedish fish (although I don't like how they get stuck in your teeth). Just to prove that there's something for everyone, here's a link to the "world's biggest Gummy Bear"...appropriate for either a sweet-toothed giant or someone who loves to visit the dentist: http://www.vat19.com/dvds/worlds-largest-gummy-bear.cfm

However, I'm not as big a fan of people with gummy smiles. That's disturbing.

Happy New Year to everyone -- since I'm on bed rest, my husband and I will be celebrating at home tonight. Wish I had some Gummy Bears, but the peanut butter chocolate cupcakes I ordered will have to satisfy my sweet tooth. No New Year's diet resolutions for me!

Stoop Sale

2009-12-30T14:06:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: stoop

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

¹stoop

Pronunciation: \ˈstüp\

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English stoupen, from Old English stūpian; akin to Swedish stupa to fall, plunge, Old English stēap steep, deep

Date: before 12th century

intransitive verb 1 a : to bend the body or a part of the body forward and downward sometimes simultaneously bending the knees b : to stand or walk with a forward inclination of the head, body, or shoulders
2 : yield, submit
3 a : to descend from a superior rank, dignity, or status b : to lower oneself morally ed to lying>
4 a archaic : to move down from a height : alight b : to fly or dive down swiftly usually to attack preytransitive verb 1 : debase, degrade
2 : to bend (a part of the body) forward and downward

²stoop

Function: noun

Date: 1571

1 a : an act of bending the body forward b : a temporary or habitual forward bend of the back and shoulders
2 : the descent of a bird especially on its prey
3 : a lowering of oneself

³stoop

Function: noun

Etymology: Dutch stoep; akin to Old English stæpe step — more at step

Date: 1755

: a porch, platform, entrance stairway, or small veranda at a house door

I like all the definitions of this word but living in Brooklyn, the land of brownstones with stoops, the latter definition resonates the most. Stoop sales are very popular here and occasionally I do see people sitting on their stoops, although not as much as I thought I would when we moved here. We do not have a stoop but sometimes I wish we did.

What a Beast

2009-12-29T15:50:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: beast

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

beast

Pronunciation: \ˈbēst\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English beste, from Anglo-French, from Latin bestia

Date: 13th century

1 a : a four-footed mammal as distinguished from a human being, a lower vertebrate, and an invertebrate b : a lower animal as distinguished from a human being c : an animal as distinguished from a plant d : an animal under human control
2 : a contemptible person
3 : something formidably difficult to control or deal with

Beast is also an excellent restaurant and bar in my neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. It looks like some sort of dark, Goth, Sapphic bar but the food, all cooked in a tiny open kitchen in the bar's corner, is outstanding. For more info, see http://www.brooklynbeast.com/.

Gift of the Magi

2009-12-25T13:55:00.001-08:00

funny word(s) of the day: frankincense & myrrh (I couldn't decide between them and since they go together, I'm adding one as a special Christmas bonus word)

In the New Testament, myrrh was one of the gifts of the Magi to the infant Jesus according to Matthew, is cited in Mark as an intoxicant that was offered to Jesus during the crucifixion, and in John was one of the spices used to prepare Jesus' body for burial:

Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

—Matthew 2:11b

Frankincense is a gummy resin from the non- descript Boswellia Thurigera. The deciduous tree is a low twisted, thorny shrub without a central branch. Today, almost all frankincense comes from Somalia, where the trees grow along the coastline, without soil, growing out of rocks. The young trees give the best gum while the older trees yields are less desirable. To harvest frankincense, a deep cut is made into the bark and a 5-inch strip is peeled off. A milk-like juice exudes and is hardened by exposure to air. In 3 months the resin hardens into "yellowish tears" which are then scraped off and harvested.

Frankincense is highly fragrant when burned; it was used in worship where it was used as a pleasant offering to God. Medicinally it is seldom used now, though formerly it was much sought after. It was thought to be an antidote to hemlock!

Myrrh is also a gummy resin. This pale yellow resin, which dries to brown even black, is from the Commiphora shrub. The Commiphora shrub is a large shrub or tree found in East Africa, Yemen and the Red Sea countries. The shrubs yielding the resin do not grow more than 9 feet in height. The shrubs are sturdy with knotted branches that stand out at right angles. There are ducts in the bark, which fill with a granular secretion that drips when the bark is wounded or has natural fissures. The myrrh drips from the gray bark, forming irregularly shaped grains of resin. Dried myrrh is hard and brittle with a bitter taste.

Myrrh was one of the ingredients of the holy anointing oil and also of incense. It served as a fumigant in the temple and was a burial spice. Myrrh was valued as a perfume as well as for its medicinal properties. It served as local anesthetic and was given to both mother and child for postnatal care, perhaps one reason the Wise Men brought it to Jesus.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Tinseltown

2009-12-24T14:04:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: tinsel

From Wikipedia:

Tinsel was originally a metallic garland for Christmas decoration. Nowadays it is typically made of plastic, and used particularly to decorate Christmas trees. In addition it can be hung from walls or ceilings and is normally flexible enough to be wrapped around almost anything e.g. statues or lampposts. Tinsel in its modern form was invented in Higham Ferrers, England in 1843, and was originally made of shredded silver.^[1]

According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary, the word is from the Old French word "estincele", meaning sparkle.

Tinsel is a rare German, Czech and Dutch surname, originating from the same old French Word "estincele".

Tinsel used to include lead, which caused the strands to hang better from the branches. This was eventually removed due to safety concerns.^{[citation needed]}

Tinsel also can harm or kill pets, so it should be used cautiously in homes with pets. ^[2]

In honor of Christmas Eve, I thought this was an appropriate word. For the first time in 12 years, I'm not spending Christmas with my husband and his family in Wisconsin because I cannot travel this late into my pregnancy. We're going to try to Skype later but it's not the same as being there. I'm wishing everyone a long-distance Merry X-mas and hope they still have fun playing our annual game of Pictionary without me.

Brrr....

2009-12-22T14:27:00.001-08:00

I missed a few days of blog posts so here are the FWOTDs that you may not have seen:

Monday, 12/21: booger
Sunday, 12/20: blizzard
Saturday, 12/19: dinky (my mother's suggestion)

In honor of my pal Michael and the recent snowstorm that hit NYC and the rest of the East Coast, I've created a funny sentence with these words:

I went out in a blizzard wearing a dinky coat and got so cold that I had boogers coming out of my nose. That wasn't funny.

That story isn't true, btw.

Chunky Monkey

2009-12-22T14:20:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: chunky

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

chunky

Pronunciation: \ˈchəŋ-kē\

Function: adjective

Inflected Form(s): chunk·i·er; chunk·i·est

Date: 1733

1 a : heavy, solid, and thick or bulky ; especially : stocky b : plump, chubby
2 : filled with chunks

— chunk·i·ly \-kə-lē\ adverb

You can easily get chunky by eating Chunky bars, Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey ice cream (one of my favorites) and chunky peanut butter.

Scout's Honor!

2009-12-18T15:08:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: boondoggle

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

boon·dog·gle

Pronunciation: \ˈbün-ˌdä-gəl, -ˌdȯ-\

Function: noun

Etymology: coined by Robert H. Link †1957 American scoutmaster

Date: 1929

1 : a braided cord worn by Boy Scouts as a neckerchief slide, hatband, or ornament
2 : a wasteful or impractical project or activity often involving graft

— boondoggle intransitive verb

— boon·dog·gler \-g(ə-)lər\ noun

Fluffy the Cat

2009-12-17T14:51:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: fluffy

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

fluffy

Pronunciation: \ˈflə-fē\

Function: adjective

Inflected Form(s): fluff·i·er; fluff·i·est

Date: circa 1825

1 a : covered with or resembling fluff b : being light and soft or airy : puffed up
2 : lacking in meaning or substance : superficial 2c

— fluff·i·ly \ˈflə-fə-lē\ adverb

— fluff·i·ness \ˈflə-fē-nəs\ noun

I'm allergic to cats but I think if I ever got one, I'd name it Fluffy because it's funny and cute. If I ever get dogs, I plan to name them Don Pickles and Lamar LaRue. Those names would work best on pugs because that breed just looks funny.

Sew What?

2009-12-14T15:10:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: bobbin

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

bob·bin

Pronunciation: \ˈbä-bən\

Function: noun

Etymology: origin unknown

Date: 1530

1 a : a cylinder or spindle on which yarn or thread is wound (as in a sewing machine) b : any of various small round devices on which threads are wound for working handmade lace c : a coil of insulated wire; also : the reel it is wound on
2 : a cotton cord formerly used by dressmakers for piping

Recently, my mom (a very talented fiber artist and experienced sewer - see her gorgeous work at http://www.studio78.net) and I went shopping for fabric to recover some throw pillows I had that didn't match my new duvet and I mentioned that someday I'd love to learn how to sew. Next thing I knew, a gigantic box arrives to my apartment and inside is a used sewing machine that my mother ordered for me on eBay. Now, I wasn't sure if this was her passive-aggressive way of saying "Sew your own goddamn pillowcases" or if it was just a thoughtful gesture (I think the latter) and, while I didn't want to be unappreciative, I really don't have room for a sewing machine in our small apartment and with a baby on the way, won't have much time to handcraft much! So she took the sewing machine back and made me some beautiful new covers for my pillows in a cool fabric we found at Ikea. Thanks, Mommy!

Po-tay-to, Po-tot-o

2009-12-14T15:05:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day (12/13): latke

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

lat·ke

Pronunciation: \ˈlät-kə\

Function: noun

Etymology: Yiddish, pancake, from Ukrainian oladka

Date: 1927

: potato pancake

I usually try to make these every Hanukkah but as our apartment is being renovated, our Menorah is packed away and our kitchen is unusable until our countertops get installed later this week, I had to miss a year. But these are delicious and easy to make, despite their funny name.

Here's a recipe -- you don't have to be Jewish to make them. They're basically just potato pancakes.

http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/alixs-potato-latkes-hanukkah-recipes

Happy Hanukkah!

Elegant? I Don't Think So, But Cute and Funny, Yes

2009-12-12T15:43:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: hedgehog

From Wikipedia:

A hedgehog is any of the spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae and the order Erinaceomorpha. There are 17 species of hedgehog in five genera, found through parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand. There are no hedgehogs native to Australia, and no living species native to North America; those in New Zealand are introduced. Hedgehogs have changed little over the last 15 million years. Like many of the first mammals they have adapted to a nocturnal, insectivorous way of life. The name 'hedgehog' came into use around the year 1450, derived from the Middle English 'heyghoge', from 'heyg', 'hegge' = hedge, because it frequents hedgerows, and 'hoge', 'hogge' = hog, from its piglike snout.^[2] Other folk names include 'urchin', 'hedgepig' and 'furze-pig' .

For more information on the hedgehog, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedgehog.

There's a bestselling book out now called "The Elegance of the Hedgehog," which I have not yet read but is supposed to be very good. I'm curious to read it because elegant is not the first adjective I'd use to describe this little animal.

Bugle Boy (and Electronic Synthesizer Girl)

2009-12-10T14:46:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: bugle

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

¹bu·gle

Pronunciation: \ˈbyü-gəl\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin bugula

Date: 13th century

: any of a genus (Ajuga) of plants of the mint family; especially : a European annual (A. reptans) that has spikes of blue flowers and is naturalized in the United States

²bugle

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, buffalo, instrument made of buffalo horn, bugle, from Anglo-French, from Latin buculus, diminutive of bos head of cattle — more at cow

Date: 14th century

: a valveless brass instrument that resembles a trumpet and is used especially for military calls

I never played the bugle but I did play the flute in fourth grade for a few months. Then I quit. I just wasn't for me. However, I did play the electronic synthesizer in gifted and talented music in sixth grade and performed "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister in the school concert. That was pretty rockin'.

Nibbles the Mouse

2009-12-09T14:33:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: nibble

Definition from Merriam-Webster:
¹nib·ble

Pronunciation: \ˈni-bəl\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): nib·bled; nib·bling \-b(ə-)liŋ\

Etymology: origin unknown

Date: circa 1512

transitive verb 1 a : to bite gently b : to eat or chew in small bits
2 : to take away bit by bit nibbling the shore>intransitive verb 1 : to take gentle, small, or cautious bites; also : snack
2 : to deal with something as if by nibbling

— nib·bler \-b(ə-)lər\ noun

Nibbles was also the name of Jerry's cute mouse nephew on "Tom & Jerry" -- he was tiny and naughty but ate everything in sight (kind of like me!).

Beware The Hamburglar

2009-12-07T13:48:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: burglar

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

bur·glar

Pronunciation: \ˈbər-glər also -gə-lər\

Function: noun

Etymology: Anglo-French burgler, from Medieval Latin burglator, probably alteration of burgator, from burgare to commit burglary

Date: 1541

: one who commits burglary

I think the Hamburglar, the character from McDonald's, is funny too. I'm not sure I think McD's burgers are good enough to steal but maybe the ones at Corner Bistro in the Village would be worth getting caught swiping.

Situation Normal All F**ed Up

2009-12-05T13:56:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: snafu

My mother told me the origin of this word recently and I had no idea...I guess it was a term developed in WWII. It probably wasn't funny when the army used it, but it is now.

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

¹sna·fu

Pronunciation: \sna-ˈfü, ˈsna-ˌfü\

Function: noun

Etymology: situation normal all fucked up (fouled up)

Date: circa 1941

: a situation marked by errors or confusion : muddle; also : an error causing such a situation

I'm Conched Out

2009-12-01T15:25:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: conch

From Wikipedia:
A conch (pronounced /ˈkɒŋk/ "konk" or /ˈkɒntʃ/)^[1] is one of a number of different species of medium-sized to large saltwater snails or their shells. The true conchs are marine gastropod molluscs in the family Strombidae, and the genus Strombus and other closely related genera.

The name "conch" comes, via French, from the Greek word meaning any kind of shellfish or their shells.

The first use in English cited by the OED is from 1398, and declares firmly that "Al that fysshe wyth the shelles ben callyd conch" in other words, "all water animals with shells are called conch."

Later the word conch narrowed in usage, and is now primarily used for the shells (or whole animals, or meat) of several different kinds of large sea snails that have shells which are pointed at both ends. A conch shell has a high spire and a noticeable siphonal canal.

Species often called a "conch" that are not in the family Strombidae include the crown conch Melongena species; the horse conch Pleuroploca gigantea; and the sacred chank or more correctly Shankha shell, Turbinella pyrum.

Another use of the word, the conch in architecture is used in the old sense, and refers to a mollusk shell from a different class, the Bivalvia or bivalves, and which has a totally different shape, that of a scallop.

The true conch species within the genus Strombus vary in size from fairly small to very large. Several of the larger species are economically important as food sources; these include the endangered queen conch or pink conch Strombus gigas, which very rarely may produce a pink, gem quality pearl.

About 74 species of the Strombidae family are living, and a much larger number of species exist only in the fossil record.^[2] Of the living species, most are in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Six species live in the greater Caribbean region, including the Queen Conch, and the West Indian Fighting Conch, Strombus pugilis.

Many species of true conchs live on sandy bottoms among beds of sea grass in tropical waters.

Okay...now for the good stuff. Conch fritters. Indigenous to the Caribbean and West Indies, these deep-fried sea critters are delicious. Here's a recipe if you want to try to make them yourself:

http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/382/An_Outstanding_Conch_Fritter14023.shtml

I Feel Like a Turkey

2009-11-30T15:47:00.000-08:00

Apologies for the time between blog posts but as you may already know, I do post a funny word on Twitter and Facebook daily. I just don't always have time to dedicate to a blog post. But in case you only follow me here, I've included the past week's FWOTDs:

11/25 - gobble

11/26 -- turkey (of course -- it was Thanksgiving!)

11/27 -- soggy

11/28 -- blurb

11/29 -- mope

Now for the latest sentence of the day by my friend Michael using some past FWOTDs (he's going to need to do one with this group too!):

My friend was in a pickle because everyone was saying that she was sent out some bad juju by bringing jambalaya to the Seder dinner. Not being Jewish she had no idea just how spooky this would be for the other non-shellfish eating people at the table. In an act of solidarity she chose to eat the entire dish on her own and subsequently felt like a real Heifer.

National Lampoon is Funny Too

2009-11-30T13:50:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: lampoon

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

1lam·poon
Pronunciation: \lam-ˈpün\
Function: noun
Etymology: French lampon
Date: 1645
: satire 1; specifically : a harsh satire usually directed against an individual

National Lampoon, the infamous satire magazine at Harvard, was very funny, although they overextended their brand name to be on movies such as National Lampoon's Vacation (very funny) to Van Wilder (not so funny).

Pa (cough), I think I have the black lung!

2009-11-24T14:39:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: lung

From Wikipedia:

The lung or pulmonary system is the essential respiration organ in all air-breathing animals, including most tetrapods, a few fish and a few snails. In mammals and the more complex life forms, the two lungs are located in the chest on either side of the heart. Their principal function is to transport oxygen from the atmosphere into the bloodstream, and to release carbon dioxide from the bloodstream into the atmosphere. This exchange of gases is accomplished in the mosaic of specialized cells that form millions of tiny, exceptionally thin-walled air sacs called alveoli.

In order to completely explain the anatomy of the lungs, it is necessary to discuss the passage of air through the mouth to the alveoli. Once air progresses through the mouth or nose, it travels through the oropharynx, nasopharynx, the larynx, the trachea, and a progressively subdividing system of bronchi and bronchioles until it finally reaches the alveoli where the gas exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen takes place.^[

The quote in the title of this post is from one of my favorite movies, Zoolander, when Ben Stiller's lead character goes home to the coal mine country of New Jersey to visit his father, played brilliantly by Jon Voight.

Touche!

2009-11-21T14:04:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: foible

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

foi·ble

Pronunciation: \ˈfȯi-bəl\

Function: noun

Etymology: obsolete French (now faible), from obsolete foible weak, from Old French feble feeble

Date: circa 1648

1 : the part of a sword or foil blade between the middle and point 2 : a minor flaw or shortcoming in character or behavior : weakness s>

synonyms see fault

Sounds Funny but Tastes Good

2009-11-19T14:52:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: tabbouleh

I was watching a Family Thanksgiving challenge on the Food Network last night and the family that made a Middle Eastern Thanksgiving won. They made tabbouleh as a side dish and it looked delicious.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Tabbouleh
Tabbouleh (Arabic: تبولة‎; also tabouleh or tabouli) is a Levantine salad dish,[1][2] of Lebanese origin.[citation needed] Traditionally a mountain dish from the Eastern Mediterranean, it has become one of the most popular Middle Eastern salads.[3]
Its primary ingredients are finely chopped parsley, bulgur, mint, tomato, spring onion, and other herbs with lemon juice, olive oil and various seasonings, generally including black pepper and sometimes cinnamon and allspice.
In the Arab world, but particularly the Greater Syrian region, it is usually served as part of the mezze,[4][5] and is served with romaine lettuce.[6] In Iraq, the dish is considered native to Mosul, whose cuisine is tightly linked to that of Syria.[7] The Lebanese, who are considered to be master tabbouleh makers, use more parsley than bulgur wheat in their dish.[4]
A Turkish variation of the dish is known as ksir,[3] while a similar Armenian dish is known as eetch. In Cyprus, where the dish was introduced by the Lebanese, it is known as tambouli.[8]

Tabbūle is a Levantine Arabic word meaning literally "little spicy". The emphatic diminutive structure faʕʕūl is common in Syrian Arabic and is related to the formal Arabic emphatic structure faʕʕūlun (as in quddūsun "much sacred").

Here's a recipe from the Barefoot Contessa if you want to make this on your own -- it's really easy and healthy:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/tabbouleh-recipe/index.html

Does This Mean You're Really Religious?

2009-11-18T16:10:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: juju

No, it doesn't mean you're a particularly devout Jew (I know I'm not). Here's the definition from Merriam-Webster:

ju·ju

Pronunciation: \ˈjü-(ˌ)jü\

Function: noun

Etymology: of W. African origin; akin to the source of Hausa jùju fetish

Date: 1894

1 : a fetish, charm, or amulet of West African peoples 2 : the magic attributed to or associated with

Function: noun

Etymology: Yoruba jújù

Date: 1982

: a style of West African music that is characterized by a rapid beat, the use of percussion instruments, and vocal harmonies

Also used in the phrase "bad juju," which means that there's a bad aura around something and it spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E!

I'm in a Pickle

2009-11-13T13:24:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: pickle

I love pickles and, since I've been pregnant, have been liking them even more (yes, the myth is true, although I don't combine them with ice cream -- yuck). If you don't know that a pickle is a cucumber pickled in brine, you don't deserve to eat them.

If you're craving some pickles now, I'd recommend two small pickle companies (the companies are small, not the pickles!) that are sold in my hometown of Brooklyn, NY:

McClure's, which you can order here: http://www.mcclurespickles.com/

Rick's Picks, which you can get here: http://rickspicksnyc.com/

Nothing Better than NOLA

2009-11-12T14:26:00.000-08:00

funny word of the day: jambalaya

This is a Louisiana specialty that kind of resembles paella and one of many indigenous dishes to New Orleans and its environs. I happen to adore NOLA and its food (especially the oysters and beignets -- yum!) but I've actually never eaten jambalaya.

From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jambalaya):

Jambalaya is traditionally made in three parts, with meats and vegetables, and is completed by adding stock and rice. It is also a close cousin to the saffron colored paella found in Spanish culture. There are two primary methods of making jambalaya.

The first and most common is Creole jambalaya (also called "red jambalaya"). First, meat is added, usually chicken and sausage such as andouille or smoked sausage. Next vegetables and tomatoes are added to cook, followed by seafood. Rice and stock are added in equal proportions at the very end. The mixture is brought to a boil and left to simmer for 20 to 60 minutes, depending on the recipe, with infrequent stirring. Towards the end of the cooking process, stirring usually ceases.

The second style, more characteristic of southwestern and south-central Louisiana, is Cajun jambalaya, which contains no tomatoes. The meat is browned in a cast-iron pot. The bits of meat that stick to the bottom of the pot are what give a Cajun jambalaya its brown color. A little vegetable oil is added if there is not enough fat in the pot. The trinity (of onions, celery, and green bell pepper) is added and sautéed until soft. Stock and seasonings are added in the next step, and then the meats are returned to the pot. This mixture is then simmered, covered, for at least one hour. Lastly, the mixture is brought to a boil and rice is added to the pot. It is then covered and left to simmer over very low heat for at least 1/2 hour without stirring. The dish is finished when the rice has cooked.

A third method is less common. In this version, meat and vegetables are cooked separately from the rice. At the same time, rice is cooked in a savory stock. It is added to the meat and vegetables before serving. This is called "white Jambalaya." This dish is rare in Louisiana as it is seen as a "quick" attempt to make jambalaya, popularized outside the state to shorten cooking time.

Jambalaya is considered by most Louisianians to be a simple dish to prepare, yet filling, rice dish; gumbos, étouffées, and creoles are considered more difficult to perfect. Most often a long grain white rice is used in making jambalaya.

Jambalaya is differentiated from other traditional ethnic Louisiana dishes, such as gumbo and étouffée, by the way in which the rice is included. In the latter dishes, the rice is cooked separately and is served as a bed on which the main dish is served. In the usual method of preparing Jambalaya, a rich stock is created from vegetables, meat, and seafood. Raw rice is then added to the broth and the flavor is absorbed by the grains as the rice cooks.

I've Been MIA with my FWOTD

2009-11-12T14:15:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a while but I've been really busy and spent a few days in the hospital last week (which is why I missed a couple days of FWOTD). All is ok now so no worries but it kept me from blogging -- although on most days I still posted to Twitter and Facebook so if you follow me on either, you would have been up to date. If not, here are my latest funny words of the day:

funny word of the day: murmur Nov 11th
funny word of the day: hullaballoo 5:16 PM Nov 10th
Funny word of the day: girdle 8:56 PM Nov 8th
Funny word of the day: falafel 9:19 AM Nov 7th
Funny word of the day: clingy 7:40 PM Nov 4th
funny word of the day: putz 5:49 PM Nov 3rd

Belated Halloween

2009-11-02T12:11:00.001-08:00

I haven't gotten around to posting the last few days but in honor of All Hallow's Eve and Halloween, here were the two funny words of the day:

10/30: spooky
10/31: ghoul

Two more previous words I didn't post:

10/29: duty
10/28: slobber

Today's FWOTD: bubble

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

¹bub·ble

Pronunciation: \ˈbə-bəl\

Function: noun

Usage: often attributive

Etymology: Middle English bobel

Date: 14th century

1 : a small globule typically hollow and light: as a : a small body of gas within a liquid b : a thin film of liquid inflated with air or gas c : a globule in a transparent solid d : something (as a plastic or inflatable structure) that is hemispherical or semicylindrical
2 a : something that lacks firmness, solidity, or reality b : a delusive scheme
3 : a sound like that of bubbling
4 : magnetic bubble
5 : a state of booming economic activity (as in a stock market) that often ends in a sudden collapse
6 : the condition of being at risk of exclusion or replacement (as from a tournament) —usually used in the phrase on the bubble

What I Feel Like These Days

2009-10-27T13:08:00.001-07:00

funny word of the day: heifer

Definition of Merriam-Webster:

heif·er
Pronunciation: \ˈhe-fər\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English hayfare, from Old English hēahfore
Date: before 12th century
: a young cow; especially : one that has not had a calf

BTW, I feel like a heifer because I'm five months pregnant!

Remember Cabbage Patch Kids?

2009-10-26T14:20:00.001-07:00

funny word of the day: cabbage

From Wikipedia:

"The cabbage is a popular cultivar of the species Brassica oleracea Linne (Capitata Group) of the Family Brassicaceae (or Cruciferae), and is used as a leafy green vegetable. It is a herbaceous, biennial, dicotyledonous flowering plant distinguished by a short stem upon which is crowded a mass of leaves, usually green but in some varieties red or purplish, which while immature form a characteristic compact, globular cluster (cabbagehead).

The plant is also called head cabbage or heading cabbage, and in Scotland a bowkail, from its rounded shape. The Scots call its stalk a castock,[1] and the English call its head a loaf[citation needed]. It is in the same genus as the turnip – Brassica rapa L.

Cabbage leaves often display a delicate, powdery, waxy coating called bloom. The sharp or bitter taste sometimes present in cabbage is due to glucosinolate(s).

Boiling tenderizes the leaves and releases sugars, which leads to the characteristic "cabbage" aroma. Boiled cabbage has become stigmatized because of its strong cooking odor and the belief that it causes flatulence. Boiled cabbage as an accompaniment to meats and other dishes can be an excellent source of vitamins and dietary fiber."

I also think that Cabbage Patch Kids, those slightly creepy, baby-faced dolls that were all the rage when I was a little girl, are funny. I had two -- a little black bald preemie boy named Arnie Frederick and a brunette girl named Dyna Merrill (is it scary that I remember their names after 25 years?). My mom knitted Dyna a tiny cardigan sweater that was so cute.

I also like corned beef and cabbage, the traditional Irish meal that for whatever reason, my Jewish mother used to make when I was growing up.

Not Something I Enjoy Seeing my College Football Team Do Every Week!

2009-10-24T14:56:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: fumble

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

1fum·ble
Pronunciation: \ˈfəm-bəl\
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): fum·bled; fum·bling \-b(ə-)liŋ\
Etymology: probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish fumla to fumble
Date: 1534
intransitive verb
1 a : to grope for or handle something clumsily or aimlessly b : to make awkward attempts to do or find something c: to search by trial and error d: blunder
2 : to feel one's way or move awkwardly
3 a : to drop or juggle or fail to play cleanly a grounder b : to lose hold of a football while handling or running with it
transitive verb
1 : to bring about by clumsy manipulation
2 a : to feel or handle clumsily b : to deal with in a blundering way : bungle
3 : to make (one's way) in a clumsy manner
4 a : misplay b : to lose hold of (a football) while handling or running

— fum·bler \-b(ə-)lər\ noun

— fum·bling·ly \-b(ə-)liŋ-lē\ adverb

Though this is a funny-sounding word, it is not at all funny when my college football team from the Univ. of Michigan fumbles multiple times in one game, which has happened three times so far in today's game against Penn State and generally has been happening more often this season than I'd like. They used to be so good! What happened?

Yesterday's FWOTD: doozy

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

doo·zy
Variant(s): or doo·zie \ˈdü-zē\ also doo·zer \-zər\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural doozies or doozers
Etymology: perhaps alteration of daisy
Date: 1916
: an extraordinary one of its kind

You can't have any pudding if you don't eat your meat!

2009-10-22T13:30:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: pudding

From Wikipedia:

Pudding most often refers to a dessert, but can also refer to a savory dish in some dialects.

In the United Kingdom and some Commonwealth countries, pudding refers to rich, fairly homogeneous starch- or dairy-based desserts (e.g. rice pudding, Christmas pudding), or, informally, is used to refer to any dessert. The word is also used for fairly homogeneous encased savory dishes, e.g. black pudding, suet pudding.

In the U.S., pudding denotes a sweet milk-based dessert similar in consistency to egg-based custards as well as to more traditional puddings such as bread pudding or rice pudding.

The word pudding probably comes from the French boudin, originally from the Latin botellus, meaning "small sausage," referring to encased meats used in Medieval European puddings.

Pudding is also used in one of my favorite lines from Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall":

"If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding. How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat!"

The sweet version was also made famous by Bill Cosby who, for years, was a spokesman for Jello Pudding. Here's one of his commercials from the 80s:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjrtsIY4WqQ

Smocks are Funny but Rarely Sexy

2009-10-21T13:12:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: smock

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

1smock
Pronunciation: \ˈsmäk\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English smok, from Old English smoc; akin to Old High German smocco adornment
Date: before 12th century
1 archaic : a woman's undergarment; especially : chemise
2 : a light loose garment worn especially for protection of clothing while working

Play that Funky Music (White Boy)

2009-10-20T13:41:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: funk

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

1funk
Pronunciation: \ˈfəŋk\
Function: noun
Etymology: probably ultimately from French dial. (Picard) funquer to give off smoke
Date: 1623
: a strong offensive smell

Function: verb
Date: circa 1739
intransitive verb
: to become frightened and shrink back
transitive verb
1 : to be afraid of : dread
2 : to shrink from undertaking or facing

Function: noun
Etymology: perhaps from obsolete Dutch dial. (Flanders) fonck
Date: 1743
1 a : a state of paralyzing fear b : a depressed state of mind
2 : one that funks : coward
3 : slump

Function: noun
Etymology: back-formation from 2funky
Date: 1959
1 : music that combines traditional forms of black music (as blues, gospel, or soul) and is characterized by a strong backbeat
2 : the quality or state of being funky

My favorites are the first and last definitions. I like Funk music (nothing like a good George Clinton or James Brown song to get you going); however, I am not a fan of funky smells, which I encounter often on the NYC subway and when I pass homeless people on street corners.

Here's a list of the 100 Greatest Funk songs: http://digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com/pages/best_rb-funk.html

Funk is also used to describe a feeling of depression or sadness, like in the phrase "in a blue funk."

Remember the Mansierre?

2009-10-19T15:31:00.001-07:00

funny word of the day: brassiere

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

bras·siere
Pronunciation: \brə-ˈzir also ˌbra-sē-ˈer\
Function: noun
Etymology: obsolete French brassière bodice, from Old French braciere arm protector, from bras arm — more at bracelet
Date: 1911
: a woman's undergarment to cover and support the breasts

Does anyone remember that classic Seinfeld episode where George's father went into sales of the man-sierre (or as Kramer liked to call it, the "Bro"), an undergarment for men's breasts? If not, I urge you to loo it up on YouTube. It was hilarious.

The Swedish Chef

2009-10-16T13:21:00.001-07:00

funny word of the day: smorgasboard

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

smor·gas·bord
Pronunciation: \ˈsmȯr-gəs-ˌbȯrd\
Function: noun
Etymology: Swedish smörgåsbord, from smörgås open sandwich + bord table
Date: 1879
1 : a luncheon or supper buffet offering a variety of foods and dishes (as hors d'oeuvres, hot and cold meats, smoked and pickled fish, cheeses, salads, and relishes)
2 : an often large heterogeneous mixture : mélange

I have to admit: I'm getting very hungry.

Get Blotto, Bumble About and Then Skedaddle

2009-10-15T14:27:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: blotto

Definition from FreeDictionary.com:

blotto [ˈblɒtəʊ]
adj
Slang unconscious, esp through drunkenness
[from blot1 (vb); compare blot out]

Yesterday's FWOTD: bumble

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

1bum·ble
Pronunciation: \ˈbəm-bəl\
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Form(s): bum·bled; bum·bling \-b(ə-)liŋ\
Etymology: Middle English bomblen to boom, of imitative origin
Date: 15th century
1 : buzz
2 : drone, rumble

2bumble
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): bumbled; bumbling
Etymology: perhaps alteration of bungle
Date: 1532
intransitive verb
1 : blunder; specifically : to speak ineptly in a stuttering and faltering manner
2 : to proceed unsteadily : stumble
transitive verb
: bungle

— bum·bler \-b(ə-)lər\ noun

— bum·bling·ly \-b(ə-)liŋ-lē\ adverb

Tuesday's FWOTD: skedaddle

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

ske·dad·dle
Pronunciation: \ski-ˈda-dəl\
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Form(s): ske·dad·dled; ske·dad·dling \-ˈdad-liŋ, -ˈda-dəl-iŋ\
Etymology: probably alteration of British dial. scaddle to run off in a fright, from scaddle, adjective, wild, timid, skittish, from Middle English scathel, skadylle harmful, fierce, wild, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse skathi harm — more at scathe
Date: 1861
: run away, scram; especially : to flee in a panic

— ske·dad·dler \-ˈdad-lər, -ˈda-dəl-ər\ noun

Don't Be Snooty!

2009-10-12T13:42:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: snooty

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

snooty
Pronunciation: \ˈsnü-tē\
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): snoot·i·er; snoot·i·est
Date: 1919
1 : looking down the nose : showing disdain 2 : characterized by snobbery
— snoot·i·ly \ˈsnü-tə-lē\ adverb
— snoot·i·ness \ˈsnü-tē-nəs\ noun

This word is often used to describe British people (and evidently also foxes who dress in hunting clothes).

That Fruit is Smokin'

2009-10-11T15:12:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: hookah

Definition from American Heritage Dictionary:

hook·ah (hk)
n.
An Eastern smoking pipe designed with a long tube passing through an urn of water that cools the smoke as it is drawn through. Also called hubble-bubble, narghile.
-------------------------------------------------------
[Urdu, from Arabic uqqa, small box, the hookah's water urn, from aqqa, to be true, be suitable; see qq in Semitic roots.]

According to Wikipedia, a hookah (Hindi: हुक़्क़ा, Urdu: حقّہ hukkah), nargile in Turkish, or nargila (Hebrew: נרגילה‎ nar-gee-la), or shisha (Arabic: شيشة ""shee-sha""‎) is a single or multi-stemmed (often glass-based) water pipe for smoking shisha (a type of tobacco). The concept of filtered smoke through a pipe originated in India and later developed into the modern hookah in Iran.

Hookahs have gained immense popularity, especially in the Middle East and are gaining popularity in the USA, UK, and elsewhere.[6] Today, some of the highest quality and most extravagant hookah pipes come from Israel, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Turkey. The hookah operates by water filtration and indirect heat. They can also be used for smoking fruits.

Good to know since smoking fruit is something I'm interesting in doing. Not.

Mug Shot

2009-10-09T12:03:00.001-07:00

funny word of the day: mug

Hard to believe that there's actually an entry on Wikipedia for this word, but there is. Here's the intro in case you've only ever drunk out of your hands:

"A mug is a sturdily built type of cup often used for drinking hot beverages, such as coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Mugs, by definition, have handles and often hold a larger amount of fluid than other types of cup. Usually a mug holds approximately 12 fluid ounces (350 ml) of liquid, double a tea cup. In formal settings a mug is usually not used for serving hot beverages, with a teacup or coffee cup being preferred. Shaving mugs can be used to assist in wet shaving."

We had some funny mugs growing up -- favorites included "Happy Divorce!" (that was my mom's), "Yuppie Manual" which featured cartoon versions of male and female Yuppies with arrows pointing at all their Yuppie accoutrements i.e. loafers, briefcase, headbands, and my prized Smurf mug that I still have today (pictured above). A guy I work with has a funny one as well -- it says "My name is Chad and I'll be your mug today."

Facial Hair can be Funny, Especially this One

2009-10-08T13:37:00.001-07:00

funny word of the day: goatee

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

goa·tee
Pronunciation: \gō-ˈtē\
Function: noun
Etymology: from its resemblance to the beard of a he-goat
Date: 1844
: a small pointed or tufted beard on a man's chin
— goa·teed \-ˈtēd\ adjective

Sported by many celebrities, athletes and hipsters, the goatee, for whatever reason, has come back into fashion of late. According to Wikipedia, the word probably originated from the tuft of hair seen on an adult goat. There are several different types of goatees, detailed below:

French Fork – a double pointed goatee
Musketeer – a small, pointed goatee with an English moustache (narrow, prominent), as worn by the French mousquetaires
Van Dyck – a thick goatee and moustache with upturned ends, as worn by the 17th century Flemish painter Sir Anthony van Dyck. In modern usage, a Van Dyck is often any moustache and goatee combination.

My talented husband, a copywriter, created a genius (if I must say so myself) iPhone app called UArt, which allows you to snap a picture of yourself or someone else, upload it and add any facial hair you'd like, then shave it. So, for example, you could put a beard on someone and shave it into a goatee, if you so desired. It's really fun and you can download it in the Apple iPhone app store.

Remember The Bedazzler?

2009-10-07T13:03:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: bedazzle

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

be·daz·zle
Pronunciation: \bi-ˈda-zəl, bē-\
Function: transitive verb
Date: 1596
1 : to confuse by a strong light : dazzle 2 : to impress forcefully : enchant
— be·daz·zle·ment \-mənt\ noun

When I was a little girl, I owned a Bedazzler, which was a contraption that alllowed you to add rhinestones to just about anything you could punch through. I decided to buy a slew of white sailor hats and bedazzle them with gems and then sell them to my friends. Needless to say, there wasn't a big market in rhinestone-laden sailor hats and I had a stack of them on my closet shelf for years until my mom finally threw them out.

Yesterday's FWOTD: mirth

Squab is Funny Til You Find Out What it is...

2009-10-05T13:42:00.001-07:00

funny word of the day: squab

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

squab
Pronunciation: \ˈskwäb\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural squabs
Etymology: probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish dial. skvabb loose, fat flesh
Date: 1664
1 a : couch b : a cushion for a chair or couch2 or plural squab : a fledgling bird; specifically : a fledgling pigeon about four weeks old3 : a short fat person
— squab adjective

My husband and I were out to dinner at a restaurant in Brooklyn that had been written up in New York Magazine and featured a chef who had been a contestant on Top Chef. The special of the night was stuffed squab and my hubby bravely ordered it. Well, after taking forever to arrive at the table, he was faced with essentially a dead pigeon with its head and claws in tact. It was one of the most disturbing things I've ever seen...and I've seen a lot of disturbing things. He attempted to eat it because he was starving but barely made it through three bites. After the meal, the waitress (who had raved about the special) asked how it was and we said "not so good." Luckily they were nice enough to remove the squab from our bill -- thank god because we found out it cost $32! For a glorified pigeon? We could have killed one perched on our windowsill for free!

While there was nothing funny about that meal, squab is still a funny word (and funny bird -- I made a rhyme!). And by the way, we should have known better -- that chef was kicked off his season of Top Chef pretty early. Now we know why.

SpongeBob Square Pants is Funny Too

2009-10-04T15:02:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: sponge

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

1sponge
Pronunciation: \ˈspənj\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English, from Latin spongia, from Greek
Date: before 12th century
1 a (1) : an elastic porous mass of interlacing horny fibers that forms the internal skeleton of various marine animals (phylum Porifera) and is able when wetted to absorb water (2) : a piece of sponge (as for scrubbing) (3) : a porous rubber or cellulose product used similarly to a sponge b : any of a phylum (Porifera) of aquatic chiefly marine simple invertebrate animals that have a double-walled body of loosely aggregated cells with a skeleton supported by spicules or spongin and are filter feeders that are sessile as adults
2 : a pad (as of folded gauze) used in surgery and medicine (as to remove discharge)
3 : one who lives on others
4 a : a soft mixture of yeast, liquid, and flour that is allowed to rise and then mixed with additional ingredients to create bread dough b : a whipped dessert usually containing whites of eggs or gelatin c : a metal (as platinum) obtained in porous form usually by reduction without fusion d : the egg mass of a crab
5 : an absorbent contraceptive device that is impregnated with spermicide and inserted into the vagina before sexual intercourse to cover the cervix

synonyms see parasite

— sponge·like\ˈspənj-ˌlīk\ adjective

I suppose SpongeBob Square Pants, star of the popular Nickelodeon cartoon of the same name, is the kind of sponge that is an aquatic animal that are mostly found in marine waters. To me, he just looks like a regular kitchen sponge, except with a face and pants. Regardless, he's really funny. Should I be embarrassed that I regularly watch that show even though I don't have kids yet? Perhaps. But I'm not ashamed.

I Smelt the Smelt & It was Not Pretty

2009-10-03T14:46:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: smelt

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

smelt
Pronunciation: \ˈsmelt\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural smelts or smelt
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Norwegian smelte whiting
Date: before 12th century
: any of a family (Osmeridae) of small bony fishes that closely resemble the trouts in general structure, live along coasts and ascend rivers to spawn or are landlocked, and have delicate oily flesh with a distinctive odor and taste

While I've never eaten smelt, it honestly doesn't sound the least bit appealing to me.

The Nose Knows...

2009-10-02T13:55:00.001-07:00

funny word of the day: nostril

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

nos·tril
Pronunciation: \ˈnäs-trəl\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English nosethirl, from Old English nosthyrl, from nosu nose + thyrel hole; akin to Old English thurh through
Date: before 12th century
1 : either of the external nares; broadly : either of the nares with the adjoining passage on the same side of the septum 2: either fleshy lateral wall of the nose

Some people, like Amy Winehouse, for example, like to put substances up their nostrils. Others prefer nose rings. Neither is my thing.

Are You Out of Your Gourd?

2009-10-01T12:42:00.001-07:00

funny word of the day: gourd

Since it's now official autumn, there's a slight chill in the air (at least in NYC) and the temporary Halloween costume shops are starting to abound, I thought this fall vegetable/decorative object was an appropriate word.

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

gourd
Pronunciation: \ˈgȯrd, ˈgu̇rd\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English gourde, from Anglo-French gurde, gourde, from Latin cucurbita
Date: 14th century
1 : any of a family (Cucurbitaceae, the gourd family) of chiefly herbaceous tendril-bearing vines including the cucumber, melon, squash, and pumpkin 2 : the fruit of a gourd : pepo; especially : any of various hard-rinded inedible fruits of plants of two genera (Lagenaria and Cucurbita) often used for ornament or for vessels and utensils
— out of one's gourd also off one's gourd : crazy

I like that this word is also used in a phrase that indicates someone is crazy.

Oompa Oompa

2009-09-30T13:41:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: tuba

My husband and I just watched the one and only season of "Freaks & Geeks" on DVD and I thought it was great that Seth Rogen's burnout character fell in love with a tuba player in the school band (who was born w/both male & female body parts but that's a whole separate post).

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

tu·ba
Pronunciation: \ˈtü-bə, ˈtyü-\
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian, from Latin, trumpet
Date: 1852
: a large low-pitched brass instrument usually oval in shape and having a conical tube, a cup-shaped mouthpiece, and a usual range an octave lower than that of the euphonium
— tu·ba·ist \-bə(-i)st\ or tub·ist \-bist\ noun

Who You Calling Cuckoo?

2009-09-29T14:49:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: cuckoo

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

1cuck·oo
Pronunciation: \ˈkü-(ˌ)kü, ˈku̇-\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural cuckoos
Etymology: Middle English cuccu, of imitative origin
Date: 13th century
1 : a largely grayish-brown European bird (Cuculus canorus) that is a parasite given to laying its eggs in the nests of other birds which hatch them and rear the offspring; broadly : any of a large family (Cuculidae of the order Cuculiformes) to which this bird belongs2 : the call of the cuckoo3 : a silly or slightly crackbrained person

3cuckoo
Function: adjective
Date: 1627
1 : of, relating to, or resembling the cuckoo2 : deficient in sense or intelligence : silly

cuckoo clock
Function: noun
Date: 1789
: a wall or shelf clock that announces the hours by sounds resembling a cuckoo's call

That's a Bunch of Blarney!

2009-09-26T14:55:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: blarney

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

blar·ney
Pronunciation: \ˈblär-nē\
Function: noun
Etymology: Blarney stone, a stone in Blarney Castle, near Cork, Ireland, held to bestow skill in flattery on those who kiss it
Date: 1784
1 : skillful flattery : blandishment
2 : nonsense, humbug

— blarney verb

Blarney legend - The seeds of the 'gift of gab' legend might trace back all the way to Queen Elizabeth I. The story goes something like this; Lord Blarneys' particular talent was distracting (and sidetracking) his colleagues during conversation. It was a talent he particularly used with zest any time there was a promise he was requested to keep. And, Lord Blarney had made a number of promises to the Queen. In fast, after repeated efforts to gain Blarneys' cooperation, the Queen could only express her frustration by repeating "Blarney, Blarney". Thus, the word "Blarney" became synonyms with someone who tells a good but untrue story.

Nacho Libre

2009-09-25T14:02:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: nacho

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

na·cho
Pronunciation: \ˈnä-(ˌ)chō\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural nachos
Etymology: American Spanish, perhaps from Spanish nacho flat-nosed
Date: 1949
: a tortilla chip topped with melted cheese and often additional savory toppings (as hot peppers or refried beans)

Proving that there's a website for everything, I found this one: http://www.ilovenachocheese.com/, whose tagline is "for everyone who loves nacho cheese." The person running this site clearly has too much time on his hands (and likely a few extra pounds on his frame from eating nacho cheese!).

Nachos are very easy to make but here's a recipe in case you don't know how: http://elise.com/recipes/archives/001636nachos.php

I also enjoyed the film "Nacho Libre" starring Jack Black as an orphanage caretaker by day/Mexican wrestler by night. It was absolutely ridiculous but also extremely funny.

A Whale of a Time

2009-09-24T14:52:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: harpoon

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

har·poon
Pronunciation: \här-ˈpün\
Function: noun
Etymology: probably from Dutch harpoen, from Middle Dutch, from Old French harpon brooch, from harper to grapple
Date: 1625
: a barbed spear or javelin used especially in hunting large fish or whales
— harpoon transitive verb
— har·poon·er noun

I Love a Good Juggler

2009-09-23T12:52:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: juggler

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

jug·gler
Pronunciation: \ˈjə-g(ə-)lər\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English jogelour minstrel, magician, from Anglo-French jugleur, jogolur, from Latin joculator, from joculari
Date: 14th century
1 a : one who performs tricks or acts of magic or deftness b : one skilled in keeping several objects in motion in the air at the same time by alternately tossing and catching them

2 : one who manipulates especially in order to achieve a desired end

My husband can juggle (no, that's not a picture of him at right, thank god) but he doesn't get much occasion to. I would like him to juggle for me more often -- it's very entertaining.

Tea & Crumpets, Anyone?

2009-09-22T15:18:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: crumpet

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

crum·pet
Pronunciation: \ˈkrəm-pət\
Function: noun
Etymology: perhaps from Middle English crompid (cake) wafer, literally, curled-up cake, from crumped, past participle of crumpen to curl up, from crump, crumb crooked, from Old English crumb; akin to Old High German krump crooked
Date: 1638
: a small round unsweetened bread cooked on a griddle and usually split and toasted before serving

These are kind of like bigger, more British English Muffins (could you get more English than "English muffins"? Hmmm...) They're delicious with butter (or clotted cream, if you're trying to be more British) and jam. Yum.

Howdy, Folks(ingers)!

2009-09-21T15:15:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: hootenanny

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

hoo·te·nan·ny
Pronunciation: \ˈhü-tə-ˌna-nē\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural hoo·te·nan·nies
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: 1929
1 chiefly dialect : gadget 2 : a gathering at which folksingers entertain often with the audience joining in

Although I'm not familiar with it, according to Wikipedia, there was a television show called "Hootenanny" in the 1960s. Hootenanny was a musical variety television show broadcast in the United States on ABC from April 1963 to September 1964. The program was hosted by Jack Linkletter. It primarily featured pop-oriented folk music acts, including The Journeymen, The Limeliters, the Chad Mitchell Trio, The New Christy Minstrels, The Brothers Four, Ian & Sylvia, The Big 3, Hoyt Axton, Judy Collins, Johnny Cash, The Carter Family, Flatt & Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys, The Tarriers, Bud & Travis, and the Smothers Brothers. Although both popular and influential, the program is primarily remembered today for the controversy created when the producers blacklisted certain folk music acts, which then led to a boycott by others.

Fashizzle My Grizzle

2009-09-21T15:08:00.000-07:00

I've been so busy over the past week that, while I've posted a FWOTD on Twitter and Facebook, I haven't had a sec to post on the blog. So, in the style of my good friend Michael, I've made a sentence out of my funny words from the past week (in italics):

As I blurted out a hodgepodge of funny words while dressed in a baggy pair of pants, everyone around me started to titter which really made me grizzle.

To see definitions of any of the above words, here's a link to Merriam-Webster:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/

Put a Cork in It!

2009-09-13T17:54:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: cork

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

1cork
Pronunciation: \ˈkȯrk\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, cork, bark, probably from Middle Dutch *kurk or Middle Low German korck, from Old Spanish alcorque, ultimately from dialect Arabic qurq, from Latin quercus oak — more at fir
Date: 14th century
1 a : the elastic tough outer tissue of the cork oak that is used especially for stoppers and insulation b : phellem
2 : a usually cork stopper for a bottle or jug
3 : a fishing float

I particulary like the phrase "Put a cork in it!" which basically means "Shut up!"

Yesterday's FWOTD was: schlep

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

schlep
Variant(s): or schlepp also shlep or shlepp \ˈshlep\
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): schlepped also shlepped; schlep·ping also shlep·ping
Etymology: Yiddish shlepn, from Middle High German sleppen, from Middle Low German slēpen
Date: 1922
transitive verb
: drag, haul
intransitive verb
: to proceed or move especially slowly, tediously, awkwardly, or carelessly

I'm Not the Only One who Thinks Moist is a Funny Word

2009-09-12T08:42:00.001-07:00

Funny and gross, according to this article from today's NY Post:

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/hated_words_take_the_cake_78o6B2IRILrU2aeSuHdGxL

Attention, advertisers: Some people hate the word “moist.”

Hated words take the cake

By DON KAPLAN

Last Updated: 4:09 AM, September 12, 2009

Posted: 3:18 AM, September 12, 2009

“Cloudy and moist, with a chance of showers”? — think again. “Creamy?” Oh no, you did not just use the “C” word!

The animosity has grown so strong, it’s cropping up on Web sites and Facebook groups, some solely devoted to disdain for the word “moist” and other seemingly innocuous vocabulary entries.

A Google search of the words “moist” and “hate” turns up nearly 1 million entries.

“The word moist makes me throw up in my mouth a little,” says Andrea, a member of the Facebook group “I Hate the Word Moist,” which boasts nearly 1,000 members. Other terms tagged by people as linguistic losers include: “panties,” “fleshy,” “chunks,” “insert” and “used.”

That’s just a smattering of vocabulary words singled out as offensive simply because of how they sound.

“Words that evoke emotions, are touchy-feely or extremely physical are very powerful and extremely important aspects of language,” says Wolfgang Wolck, a professor emeritus at the University at Buffalo who specializes in social linguistics. He says many of the words that are problematic fall under the category of what researchers call kinesthetic, or the ability to feel physical sensations and movement.

“People are negatively reacting to words that describe things that are touchy-feely,” says Wolck.

Other visceral reactions may come from words that just sound plain icky.

“In the English language, there can also sometimes be a backlash against words that are onomatopoeias,” says Wolck, using a term that describes words that imitate or suggest the source of the sound they are describing — such as animal noises, like “oink.” In these cases, he says, he has seen bias against words such as “slimy,” or “slithery.”

“The one thing they all seem to have in common is that they have something to do with liquidity,” says Wolck. Somewhere, Duncan Hines, with its armada of moisture-rich cake products, has got to be cringing.

I've Always Wanted One of These

2009-09-10T14:46:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: gazebo

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

ga·ze·bo
Pronunciation: \gə-ˈzē-(ˌ)bō also -ˈzā-\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural ga·ze·bos
Etymology: perhaps from 1gaze + Latin -ebo (as in videbo I shall see)
Date: 1752
1 : belvedere 2 : a freestanding roofed structure usually open on the sides

These are so silly looking but it would be cool to have one. I live in an apartment with no backyard, though, so that would be difficult. Oh, well...maybe someday.

Anyone ever had Beer Goggles?

2009-09-09T12:46:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: goggles

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

gog·gles
Pronunciation: \ˈgä-gəlz\
Function: noun plural
Date: 1715
1 : protective glasses set in a flexible frame (as of rubber or plastic) that fits snugly against the face
2 : an electronic apparatus that covers the eyes and is used to enhance vision (as at night) or to produce images (as of a virtual reality)

— gog·gled \-gəld\ adjective

Goggles are a funny word and also look funny when people wear them. "Beer goggles" has become a popular term that, according to Wikipedia, is a slang term for a phenomenon in which consumption of alcohol lowers sexual inhibitions to the point that very little or no discretion is used when approaching or choosing sexual partners. It can also refer to literal goggle-like devices used to distort vision to simulate the effects of drunkenness. Sometimes waking up after a night of wearing proverbial beer goggles is not funny at all.

Grandma Chic

2009-09-07T15:20:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: doily

I owe this one to my friend Meryl, who was over my apartment today and suggested this as a FWOTD.

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

doi·ly
Pronunciation: \ˈdȯi-lē\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural doilies
Etymology: Doily or Doyley fl1711 London draper
Date: 1711

1 : a small napkin 2 : a small often decorative mat

I'm not sure what the point of doilies is. They're ugly and not all that useful but grandmothers have been using them for years and years and now that country chic is making a comeback, I suspect doilies are here to stay.

Smushy, Squishy, Same Thing

2009-09-05T15:33:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: squishy

Definition from the American Heritage Dictionary:

squish·y (skwsh)

adj. squish·i·er, squish·i·est

1. Soft and wet; spongy.

2. Sloppily sentimental.

I wanted my word today to be "smushy" but evidently it's not a real word (at least it's not in the dictionary). Oh well, squishy is close enough.

Yesterday's FWOTD: dribble

Thursday's FWOTD: smock

Headscarf or Grandma? Both!

2009-09-02T13:03:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: babushka

My colleague at work owns a website that sells babushkas (www.headscarves.com) and I wasn't sure if the word would be in the English language dictionary since I believe its origin is Yiddish...but, alas, here it is:

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

ba·bush·ka
Pronunciation: \bə-ˈbüsh-kə, -ˈbu̇sh-, ba-\
Function: noun
Etymology: Russian, grandmother, diminutive of baba old woman
Date: 1938
1 a : a usually triangularly folded kerchief for the head b : a head covering (as a scarf) resembling a babushka 2 : an elderly Russian woman

I love that it means both a Russian grandmother and a kerchief for the head, which is now worn by young women and men alike (aka doo-rags).

Great Game for a Rainy Day

2009-09-01T13:00:00.001-07:00

funny word of the day: boggle

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

bog·gle
Pronunciation: \ˈbä-gəl\
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): bog·gled; bog·gling \-g(ə-)liŋ\
Etymology: perhaps from bogle
Date: 1598
intransitive verb 1: to start with fright or amazement : be overwhelmed 2 : to hesitate because of doubt, fear, or scruplestransitive verb 1 : mishandle, bungle 2 : to overwhelm with wonder or bewilderment
— boggle noun

Boggle is also a popular word game that I played growing up. According to Wikipedia, Boggle was designed by Allan Turoff and trademarked by Parker Brothers and Hasbro. The game is played using a grid of lettered dice, in which players attempt to find words in sequences of adjacent letters. You can play it for free online here: http://www.fun-with-words.com/boggle.html

What's that Smell?

2009-08-31T11:15:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: musk

I think this word is hilarious and it turns out its origin means "testicle" so that's even funnier. See Wikipedia entry:

Musk is the name originally given to a substance with a penetrating odor obtained from a gland of the male musk deer, which is situated between its stomach and genitals. The substance has been used as a popular perfume fixative since ancient times and is one of the most expensive animal products in the world. The name, originated from Sanskrit muṣká meaning "testicle," has come to encompass a wide variety of substances with somewhat similar odors although many of them are quite different in their chemical structures. They include glandular secretions from animals other than the musk deer, numerous plants emitting similar fragrances, and artificial substances with similar odors.[1]
Until the late 19th century, natural musk was used extensively in perfumery until economic and ethical motives led to the adoption of synthetic musk, which is used almost exclusively.[2] The organic compound primarily responsible for the characteristic odor of musk is muscone.

Yesterday's FWOTD: chewy (I sat next to a guy at brunch yesterday who was with his dog named Chewy, also the nickname for Chewbaka from Star Wars and generally a humorous adjective.)

Saturday's FWOTD: clunker (only funny if you tried to get cash for yours and you missed the deadline!)

Nothing Like a Lumpy Monk

2009-08-28T12:48:00.001-07:00

funny word of the day: monk

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

¹monk
Pronunciation: \ˈməŋk\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English munuc, from Late Latin monachus, from Late Greek monachos, from Greek, adjective, single, from monos single, alone
Date: before 12th century

: a man who is a member of a religious order and lives in a monastery; also : friar

²monk
Function: noun
Date: 1843

: monkey

Also a popular show on the USA Network starring Tony Shaloub.

yesterday's FWOTD was: lumpy

I once knew a guy whose nickname was "Lumpy" for obvious reasons. He had a big crush on me and bought me a giant stuffed dolphin from SeaWorld. It did not win me over.

First part of this word sounds like something else

2009-08-26T13:24:00.001-07:00

funny word of the day: condiment

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

con·di·ment
Pronunciation: \ˈkän-də-mənt\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin condimentum, from condire to season
Date: 15th century
: something used to enhance the flavor of food; especially : a pungent seasoning
— con·di·men·tal \ˌkän-də-ˈmen-təl\ adjective

I'm a fan of some condiments (soy sauce, mustard, vinegar, hot sauce) and I dislike others (ketchup, mayo, relish). What's your favorite condiment?

Oodles of Noodles

2009-08-25T13:02:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: oodles

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

oo·dles
Pronunciation: \ˈü-dəlz\
Function: noun plural but singular or plural in construction
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: circa 1867
: a great quantity : lot

Remember Oodles of Noodles Ramen -- a college student's best friend? Yum.

What? You're Not Making Any Sense!

2009-08-24T14:04:00.001-07:00

funny word of the day: gibberish

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

gib·ber·ish
Pronunciation: \ˈji-b(ə-)rish, ˈgi-\
Function: noun
Etymology: probably from gibber
Date: circa 1554
: unintelligible or meaningless language: a : a technical or esoteric language b : pretentious or needlessly obscure language

If you want a tutorial on how to speak gibberish, here's a video on YouTube that shows you in five easy steps:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3UL_Qtd-fM

Is there such a thing as a glib banshee?

2009-08-23T15:10:00.000-07:00

I didn't have time to post yesterday (party at my sister's house in NJ, followed by a party in NYC) but yesterday's FWOTD was: glib

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

glib
Pronunciation: \ˈglib\
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): glib·ber; glib·best
Etymology: probably modification of Low German glibberig slippery
Date: 1584
1 a : marked by ease and informality : nonchalant b : showing little forethought or preparation : offhand c : lacking depth and substance : superficial
2 archaic : smooth, slippery
3 : marked by ease and fluency in speaking or writing often to the point of being insincere or deceitful

— glib·ly adverb
— glib·ness noun

Today's funny word of the day: banshee

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

ban·shee
Pronunciation: \ˈban-(ˌ)shē, ban-ˈ\
Function: noun
Etymology: Irish bean sídhe & Scottish Gaelic bean sìth, literally, woman of fairyland
Date: 1771
: a female spirit in Gaelic folklore whose appearance or wailing warns a family that one of them will soon die

Evidently, a Banshee is also a funny-looking four-wheel Yamaha motorbike.

The World's Most Finicky Cat & Dog

2009-08-21T13:35:00.000-07:00

funny word of the day: finicky

Definition from Merriam-Webster:

fin·icky
Pronunciation: \ˈfi-ni-kē\
Function: adjective
Etymology: alteration of finicking
Date: circa 1825
1 : extremely or excessively particular, exacting, or meticulous in taste or standards 2 : requiring much care, precision, or attentive effort
— fin·ick·i·ness noun

For some reason, this word is often used to describe cats moreso than people. Remember Morris the Cat? Voiced by John Irwin of Masters of the Universe, he is the advertising mascot for 9Lives brand cat food, appearing on its packaging and in many of its television commercials. A large red tabby tom, he is "the world's most finicky cat", and prefers only 9Lives brand, making this preference clear by means of humorously sardonic voice-over comments when offered other brands. Every can of 9Lives features Morris' "signature".

Evidently, dogs can also be finicky. My husband likes to sing this jingle from a Mealtime dog food commercial he watched growing up. It went like this: "You get so finicky when it comes to meal time. That's why it's Mealtime for you, my finicky friend." Their slogan was "A meaty taste for your finicky friend." Gross.

Here are links to both commercials:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKRGadiN59k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJxFRfmy0O4