strohlem
n.— «The 18th-century kitchen has a strohlem ceiling that is among the best preserved that team members have seen. Strohlem is the German word for straw and mud, Thomas said. Wooden boards were wrapped in wet straw, then packed in mud.» —“The Talking Walls” by Mary Giunca Winston-Salem Journal (N.C.) July 13, 2004. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
We tend to take the index of a book for granted, but centuries ago, these helpful lists were viewed with suspicion. Some even worried that indexes would harm reading comprehension! A witty new book tells the story. Plus, the Latin term bona fides...
If you take up texting and social media late in life, there’s a lot to learn! A twenty-something wants advice getting her dad up to speed on memes, Instagram, and animated images. Plus, when you’re on a long road trip, what do you call...
