weird and wonderful words

[Ruth]

Ages of rivers have nothing to do with years they've been around. It's the physical configuration that counts. Any river that meanders is getting into old age. Definitely there if the meanders have been cut off and now form oxbow lakes.

[Carol]

No I knew it didn't matter about years. Thanks for clarification.

[Harvey]

100% Ruth! All to do with erosion and stuff! Good geographer!

[Ruth]

Harvey wrote: "100% Ruth! All to do with erosion and stuff! Good geographer!"

BS, Geology/Paleontology USC 1957

[Harvey]

Great stuff Ruth! I always had a passion for geology, sparked off by my father's drawings of cross sections of South Wales coalfields.

[Ken, Moderator]

It's all dirt to me.

[Harvey]

The anthracite may be... but (I know you were not saying this) but my father's technical drawings were art somehow... gave me a career anyway, though I'm split between words and images and maybe always will be! Love cartography though.

[Harvey]

The anthracite horses... Dylan Thomas. Wonderful imagery!

[Ken, Moderator]

Yeah, I like maps, too. Who doesn't? There's something fundamentally appealing about them.

[Ruth]

Harvey wrote: "Great stuff Ruth! I always had a passion for geology, sparked off by my father's drawings of cross sections of South Wales coalfields."

Was your father a geologist?

[Ruth]

Harvey wrote: "The anthracite may be... but (I know you were not saying this) but my father's technical drawings were art somehow... gave me a career anyway, though I'm split between words and images and maybe al..."

Beautiful technical drawings are just that. Beautiful.

[Scout]

I like the word serendipity. After viewing its formal definition, I find it to be a weightier word than I thought - one acknowledged by historians, scientists, economists, inventors, and explorers. I'd like to think that Einstein liked it. Wonderful word.

[Carol]

Scout wrote: "I like the word serendipity. After viewing its formal definition, I find it to be a weightier word than I thought - one acknowledged by historians, scientists, economists, inventors, and explorers..."

It skips across your tongue doesn't it. I like it also,another word I like to say is Montego. I just like how it sounds and how it glides out of my mouth. Weird

[Scout]

Another glider: onomatopoeia

[Carol]

That one stumbles out of my mouth. ha ha

[Scout]

:) OK, Kittykat, I'll try another. How about mimosa? I have one growing in my yard, and the blooms are as sweet as the name.

[Harvey]

Ruth wrote: "Harvey wrote: "Great stuff Ruth! I always had a passion for geology, sparked off by my father's drawings of cross sections of South Wales coalfields."

Was your father a geologist?"

No, though he studied geology in South Wales after the war, when he came to England. Ended up as a Financial Director. Left me with a passion for earth sciences and cartography and a loathing for financial analysis!

[Carol]

Mimosaaaaaa.Sweet stirrings of the south are being evoked.

[Scout]

Mmmhmm. Come on down . . . sweet shrubs, sunshine, sugar, saltwater, seafood, starlight, starfish, surf.

[Carol]

Thanks for the offer.

[Scout]

Any time.

A weird word: triskaidekaphobia

[Ruth]

Igad! Not 13! Run for your life!

[Joni]

"You scored 5 out of a possible 10

You're not quite so much of a goostrumnoodle [fool:] as you might be, but you're still two ants short of a picnic. As the Aussies would say, the wheel is turning, but the hamster is dead."

YIKES!

[Scout]

Joni, dear, to whom is this addressed, and what's your motive? Explain yourself and contribute more than judgment, please.

[Scout]

ovine - Latin in origin, but no obvious connection to its modern usage. I've eaten the meat only once when I was in college. What is its meaning?

[Ross]

Pretty much a stab in the dark unfortunately

You scored 4 out of a possible 10

You jobbernowl [blockhead:]! But don't be too mumpish [depressed in spirits:] and try not to gowl [weep bitterly:] – just start studying your dictionary.

[Harvey]

Scout wrote: "ovine - Latin in origin, but no obvious connection to its modern usage. I've eaten the meat only once when I was in college. What is its meaning?"

A sheep's genus is 'ovis', hence the adjective.

[Scout]

I thought this thread was about weird and wonderful words - not weird, nonsensical insults, Ross and Joni. Why don't you start your own group so you can rate and insult each other? I'd give you a -10 for sensitivity and good manners.

[Scout]

Harvey wrote: "Scout wrote: "ovine - Latin in origin, but no obvious connection to its modern usage. I've eaten the meat only once when I was in college. What is its meaning?"

A sheep's genus is 'ovis', hence ..."

Yes, Harvey. My point was that the word sounds nothing like the word sheep, therefore making it a weird word.

[Ross]

If you would look I think you'll find that our posts are the responses we got from taking that quiz at the beginning. This is a gargantuan misunderstanding.
No insults were aimed at any member of this group you may be sure. Apologies for posting such perceived inanities.

[Scout]

You might want to proofread your response.

[Scout]

Sorry. I know not of what I speak.

[Ross]

perhaps I was in error, I disrupted a discussion, and I apologize if I inadvertantly upset you or anyone on this board. You have to know that I never meant to insult anyone and my response was a tad ill-worded and spoke of a lack of decorum on my part. Rest assured it will not be repeated.

That said I think you have grossly misrepresented my intent and by association, myslef in your ill-aimed chastising, but it was a mistake, and I'm sure if you knew the full explanation you probably would nt have been so hasty in your attempt to chivvy us into our own little group of private and ridiculous insults

[Harvey]

For what is worth I regarded everything as humorous banter. I believe that was meant.

[Ross]

oh God, it probably was, and I misinterpeted it as a telling off! Gosh feel really stupid now.

[Harvey]

Ross' Nightlightknight' wrote: "oh God, it probably was, and I misinterpeted it as a telling off! Gosh feel really stupid now."

I thought you were being funny rather than stabbing anyone!

[Ross]

yeah clearly quite a misunderstanding, mostly my fault probably.

[Debbie, sardonic princess of cheerfulness]

It sometimes pays to read a thread right through from the beginning before you post!

[Carol]

I read it ,don't understand it ,I am going to ignore the kit-and-caboodle.hehe I wonder where that word came from?

[Scout]

Debbie, you're right. Ross, I apologized, but will do so again. I'm sorry. I obviously didn't understand the references, which seemed insulting out of context. Please continue playing and having fun.

[Ross]

Scout, I hope I didn't offend you. You don;t need to apologize again, your response was understandable under the circumstances. I hope everything's cool between us?;)

[Scout]

Everything's cool:) Let's move on. Do you have another weird and wonderful word?

[Ross]

ok anyone have a clue what a 'wallydrag' is?

apparently it means completely useless personm which is a bit harsh as I think uselesness is subjective.
Maybe that's where 'wally' comes from.

[Carol]

I know a few wallydrags.

[Spooky]

I came across an excellent word! Check it-

Sesquipedalian

Also, did the word 'illustrator' come from the word 'illuminator'? I think it did, but I've not looked into it.

[Savvy]

I've known a few "Sesquipedalian" types and generally I "absquatulate" from them.

[Spooky]

Haha, nice one.

[Ken, Moderator]

I saw a Canada goose who absquawklated yesterday.

[Carol]

Even the geese can't afford Florida. They have to vacation in Maine?

[Ken, Moderator]

Oh we've got 'em -- in numbers, too. But I see more of Momma Merganser and her 13 ducklings swimming by my dock.

Merganser. It's weird. It's wonderful.