pep
n.— «The introduction of live vocals to the sound systems—which began innocently as just another way to top Dodd?s competition—started in 1956 when Downbeat’s Winston “Count” Machuki stepped out from behind his turntable and cracked jokes, recited slang and American jive, and peppered the records with vocal tics (called “peps”) that shared elements with beatboxing.» —“Producer Clement “Coxsone” Dodd Dead at 72″ by Scott Plagenhoef Pitchfork May, 2004. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
In the 15th century, the word respair meant “to have hope again.” Although this word fell out of use, it’s among dozens collected in a new book of soothing vocabulary for troubled times. Plus, baseball slang: If a batter...
Asthenosphere, a geologist’s term for the molten layer beneath the earth’s crust, sparks a journey that stretches all the way from ancient Greece to the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Plus: What the heck is a dogberg? It’s when...