skylab
n.— «The sole means of public transport is a motorcycle service, which someone with a curious sense of humor dubbed “the Skylab.” Skylabs appear a few times a day. Up to five people, including women holding infants, cram aboard and pay 75 pesos—about three days’ wages for a farmhand—for a ride into town.» —“Life On The Margin: Village Life In The Philippines” by Robert H. Reid in Salacafe, Philippines Associated Press Oct. 2, 1994. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Samantha Harvey’s novel Orbital is a sensuous, exhilarating meditation about the strangeness of life on a space station, with its mix of tedious tasks and jaw-dropping views. And: a musician who rode the rails in his youth shares the slang he...
The word filibuster has a long and colorful history, going back to the days when pirates roamed the high seas. Today it refers to hijacking a piece of legislation. Plus, the language of yoga teachers: When doing a guided meditation, you may hear...