ricket
n.— Note: The Oxford English Dictionary has one cite for this word from 1958, defining it as criminals’ slang meaning “a blunder, mistake.” «Hearn is still involved in snooker, supplying Sky with the premier league tournament. However, he made a ricket, in Dagenham parlance, with the sport. “I make a lot of mistakes,” he says, “and usually I keep them quiet. I got a bit complacent with snooker and I gave it back to the governing body.”» —“Bowls? It’s just Hearn’s cup of tea” by Hugh MacDonald The Herald (Glasgow, Scotland) Feb. 27, 2008. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
A new book about how animals perceive their environment reveals immense worlds beyond our own. A bee can see ultraviolet light, catfish have taste buds all over their bodies, and manatees use highly sensitive lips to examine nearby objects. Also...
While compiling the Oxford English Dictionary, lexicographer James Murray exchanged hundreds of letters a week with authors, advisors, and volunteer researchers. A new collection online lets you eavesdrop on discussions about which words should be...