Wanted Words: From Amalgamots to Undercarments - Language Gaps Found and Fixed

by Michael Enright (introduction), John Ayto (Foreword), Jane Farrow (Editor)

Are you a horrible cook? If so, youre a gournot. What do you call the noise of an engine starting on a cold morning? Cranksinatra. And those coats, seatbelts, and dress hems that you hang out of car doors? Undercarments. What do you call the last cold blast of winter following the first warm days of spring? Indian Bummer. Now all of these and dozens more of the best words contributed by listeners have been brought together in this entertaining, illustrated book, along with "factoids," stories, and letters inspired by the word searches. Let the wordplay begin!

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Shami · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's not so much the words that resonate with me but rather the phenomena. My top picks:
1. Powernoia: an irrational fear of authority, of "getting caught", when you have done absolutely nothing wrong.
2. Pokemound: the indentation a hanger, hook or clothespin makes in the shoulders of shirts and jackets.
2. Interangst: the waiting period between swiping your credit or debit card and getting approved or denied by the bank.

[Anya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not all of the words are a hit, but so help me God, I'm a fan of puns.