spud
n.— «When working in deep water, the hull of the dredge is held in place by two forward spuds (large steel poles) and one aft spud. Each of these spuds has “power down” capability. Using the spud’s winch system, the operator forces the spud into the bottom, obtaining maximum penetration and holding power. The aft spud is hydraulically manipulated. Mounted on the centerline of the dredge, this spud can pivot to move the dredge forward during the dredging process, eliminating the need for anchors. With just the push of a button, the Amphibian can move forward, back, and change directions.» —“DL205 used on amphibious dredging machine” Automation Notebook June 11, 2008. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
One secret to writing well is … there is no secret! There’s no substitute for simply sitting down day after day to practice the craft and learn from your mistakes. Plus, childhood mixups around word definitions can lead to some funny stories...
She sells seashells by the seashore. Who is the she in this tongue twister? Some claim it’s the young Mary Anning, who went on to become a famous 19th-century British paleontologist. Dubious perhaps, but the story of her rise from seaside...