potato
n.— «In wrestling, there’s a thing called—they’re referred to as potatoes, is when you accidentally hurt somebody for real. And, you know, it—one potato’s OK, two potatoes is crossing the line, and the third one, you usually give what they call a receipt, which is you give one right back.» —“Interview With Bret Hart” by Terry Gross Fresh Air (NPR) Apr. 24, 2000. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Old. Elderly. Senior. Why are we so uncomfortable when we talk about reaching a certain point in life? An 82-year-old seeks a more positive term to describe how she feels about her age. And: a linguist helps solve a famous kidnapping case, using the...
In the 1920s, a crossword-puzzle craze swept across the United States. The pastime became wildly popular, and even inspired a Broadway musical, Puzzles of 1925. The fad spread through Canada and England, and the Wimbledon Public Library even removed...