A caller thinks he once heard a word that means “attracted to shiny objects.” The best we can do is neophilia. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Attracted To Shiny Objects”
Grant, a guy posted a question on the Facebook page of one of my friends.
He said, I’m looking for a word that means attracted to shiny objects.
I think it may be Latin.
I also think it may be scientific, although none of my biologist friends could help me.
It’s said of certain birds and rodents.
Do you have any idea what that word is?
I’m looking for it.
No.
I can’t find it.
So we’re thinking of crows that gather little shiny things and magpies and pack rats.
Yes, yes.
Interesting.
No, this is a good puzzle.
I like this.
Yes.
I was looking all over and trying to come up with Latin words that might fit that.
The best that I can find for attracted to shiny objects is not really that, but neophilic.
Neophilic, attracted to the new.
Exactly.
That’s as close as I can find.
But I know we have lots of scientists who listen.
And so I was hoping that they could let us know if there’s some other word for being attracted to shiny objects.
But I’ll tell you one great byproduct of my search is that I came across the word chyloproclitic.
Chyloproclitic. Don’t know. I don’t know what the chilo part is.
Okay. Well, it’s from Greek. It’s C-H-E-I-L-O-P-R-O-C-L-I-T-I-C.
Chyloproclitic. And it means erotically attracted to a person’s lips.
Oh, wow.
Oh, hello.
So that was worth it.
Kylo proclitic from the Greek.
Put some lip gloss on there.
You’ve got the term.
Yeah, the kylo from Greek for lips.
And proclitic means to lean forward.
Oh, I see.
It’s not pretty romantic, though.
You’re not going to see that in a Hallmark card.
A Hallmark card for nerds.
Yes, you would.
There we go.
There’s a product line for us.
Email words@waywordradio.org.
