complication
n.— «Yes, knobs. Otherwise known as complications, they control everything from a stopwatch accurate to a zillionth of a second, to displaying the phases of the moon, your altitude, and the efficacy of your golf swing. It is these complications, in addition to the expert labor and precious metals and gems used in the making of high-end watches, that add so much to the price.» —“Wristwatches for the Rich” by Nick Passmore BusinessWeek Nov. 26, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
When does late at night change to early in the morning? 2:30 a.m.? 3:00 a.m.? Another time? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “When Does Late Night Become Early Morn?” Listener Greg Johnson asked a question that I’ve been pondering...
The English word rhinestone is a loan translation of French caillou du Rhin, or literally “Rhine pebble,” because these sparkly fake gems were first cut from rock crystal found in the Rhine River. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of...