pathfinder state
n.— «One interesting neologism appears in the foreign policy arena: “pathfinder state.” Essentially a new phrase meaning “regional ally,” a pathfinder state is neither a great power nor an emerging great power such as India, but rather a nation whose interest in a progressive international agenda overlaps with Canada’s.» —“Long On Style, Short On Specifics” by Peter Schneider Embassy (Can.) Apr. 20, 2005. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a word-pecker is “a person who trifles or plays with, or quibbles over, words.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Word-Peckers” I always love it when I’m looking through...
How do dictionaries define colors? And why are some of those definitions so confusing, like “stronger than carmine” and “bluer than fiesta”? Dictionary editor Kory Stamper explains it all in her new book. Plus, the story behind the expression more...