leverite n. (also leaverite) a worthless stone or rock, especially one mistaken as being valuable. Editorial Note: Paul Dickson writes in Family Words (1998, p. 79), “Heaverite, according to Raymond J. Nelson of Cody, Wyoming, is a rock that, upon examination, is only good to ’heave ‘er right now.’ Geologist Davide Dattie of Spring Valley, Minnesota, reports Nebulite is a rock you cannot identify—a rock of unknown or nebulous origin.” Etymological Note: As explained in the citations, “leverite” is a jocular transformation of “leaver ‘er right (there).” The -ite suffix is used to form the names of minerals and of organisms found in fossils, among other things. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
What kind of book do people ask for most often in prison? Romance novels? No. The Bible? No. The most requested books by far are … dictionaries! A number of volunteer organizations gather and distribute used dictionaries to help inmates with...
Astronauts returning from space say they experience what’s called the overview effect, a new understanding of the fragility of our planet and our need to reflect on what humans all share as a species. A book about the end of the universe...
I find it fascinating how much fun
words can be and these examples are
an excellent demonstration of this.
Thank you.