Welcome to CAV!
by Harold Fox
Welcome to Between the Lines for this new program year. I know, this is not the first issue, but it is the first in which my column appears, so I want to extend the welcome on this, my first opportunity this year. For any readers who are new to "Calling All Verbivores," (CAV), let me just say that it is a recurring column that has to do with the wonder of words and language. If you share my fascination with that subject, you are a verbivore, and this column is produced for you.
In the preceding number of CAV I posed the following puzzler:
What common English word is 9(sic.) letters long, and each time you remove a letter from it, it still remains an English word … from 9(sic.) letters all the way down to a single remaining letter? (WordRiddle video)
The solution appears below, but try it for yourself before peeking.
Do you like lists?
Generally, I like lists. Occasionally, previous numbers of CAV have referred to lists. For example, I have reported or referred to lists of neologisms, lists of "words of the year" from various sources, lists of examples of gag-inducing business jargon, lists of semordnilaps, and so on. Therefore, when two lists having to do with words came into view since my previous number of CAV appeared, I marked them as fodder for a column. As I considered ways to begin this number of CAV I was thinking of all the lists we encounter. I don’t mean the bulleted or numbered lists that are so important to the documentation that we do professionally. Those are utilitarian, very important items in our communication toolbox. I mean, rather, such lists as the Ten Best ____, or 100 Best ____, or 100 Greatest Movies of All Time.
Indeed, if you reflect for a moment you will recognize that we encounter myriad lists. Among familiar ones, the New York Times list of best-selling books is one of the oldest. The "Top Ten List" of David Letterman’s "Late Night Show" would seem to be a strong contender for the most frequent topic of water cooler conversation. If you are a fan, you might already know that the Letterman lists are archived on the "Late Night Show" website, A site titled "Lists of Bests" includes the list of 1000 greatest films. Another item on that list of bests is "Nancy Pearl’s Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason." As of the date of my reading, it contained 2559 titles. Indeed, Google reports "about 407,093 items" for the search on "Books on or of lists."
[That sound you heard was a slap on the hand to get me back on track!]
Perhaps you can agree that we seem to be swimming in a sea of lists. Just to heighten your awareness of that environment I now point you to the two mentioned below.
The first one appeared in AARP Bulletin, October 2008: "What Are They Talking About? 50 Words That Kids Think You Don’t Know" by Betsy Towner. I won’t give you the whole 50, but a few examples may be sufficient incentive for you to follow up for yourself in the online-archived article. The items are listed under 11 headings: online, text message decoder, fashion, love, friends, music, actions, affirmations, descriptions, britishisms and the end.
ONLINE
wikidemia: a term paper that was researched entirely on Wikipedia.org
FASHION
tramp stamp: a tattoo on a woman’s lower back, designed for viewing between low-riding jeans and short T-shirts
scooby doos: good shoes
LOVE
boo: boyfriend or girlfriend
cupcaking: engaging in a public display of affection
FRIENDS
frenemy: a friend enemy; someone close to you who often hurts your feelings
nOOb: a newcomer, especially one in online gaming. Also noob, newb, or newbie
ACTIONS
floss: to show off your wealth, often in a car
rock: to manifest greatness
AFFIRMATIONS
foshizzle: certainly
THE END
badonkadonk: an attractive derrière
How many of those terms did you know?
The other list is from the BBC News online magazine. The magazine asked readers for their favorite words. Overwhelmed by nominations, they published a list of 50 of the entries under the title "50 of your favourite words."(sic.) ()
The following are selected from the list of 50, citing the nominator of each, along with at least a portion of the nominator’s accompanying comment and the ordinal number of the word in the list:
2. Poodle-faker – a young man too much given to taking tea with ladies. Jane, Pembroke
5. Spanghew – to cause (esp. a toad or frog) to fly into the air off the end of a stick. …Michael Everson, Ireland
6. Scrimshanker – one who accepts neither responsibility nor work. Maurice De Ville, Chesterfield
8. Tmesis – to break one word with another. For example: dis-bloomin-graceful, un-flippin-believable. … Colin Rogers, Maidenhead, Berks
9. …quidnunc – which means one who gossips … Katie, Hickory Hills, IL, USA
12. …urt – Urt is almost onomatopoeic, since an urt is a "leftover bit."
Eric McConnachie, Clear Lake, Ontario, CANADA
16. Petrichor – the sweet smell of rain on dry earth Natalie, Glasgow
28. … kakistocracy … The government of a state by the worst citizens. A very useful word! Helen Collins, London, England
36. Borborygmus – the rumbling sound that comes from an empty stomach Rupam, Ashburn, VA USA
45. Tattterdemalion – a person with tattered clothing or of unkempt
appearance. … I know several people who could have this word attributed to them… Graham, Luton, England
Those are some of my favorites of the "favourites."(sic.) Take a look for yourself if you are curious about the 50.
Here is the promised solution to the puzzler repeated above:
The word is STARTLING. First remove L to leave STARTING. Then remove T to leave STARING. Next remove A to leave STRING. Then remove R to leave STING. Next remove T to leave SING. Then remove G to leave SIN. Next remove S to leave IN. Finally, remove N to leave I.
Until next time, send me your solutions (or suggestions or complaints or stumpers) at hfox@juno.com or 2005 Burroughs Drive, Dayton, Ohio 45406.