Michelle calls from Peoria, Illinois, about a slang term that she and her friend Liz often heard when they were students at Bradley University in the mid-1990s. In those days before modern social media, to squid or to engage in squidding referred to...
Quiz Guy John Chaneski’s puzzle is about common bonds that connect three things. For example, what’s the one word that links the following trio of terms? A report card, USDA inspected beef, and an incline. This is part of a complete...
What’s the best way for someone busy to learn lots of new words quickly for a test like the GRE? Looking up their origins can help. Or, record yourself reading the words and definitions and play them back while you’re doing other chores...
In Kansas, the gravelly residue from mines is often called chat or chert. It’s not related to the verb meaning “informal discussion.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Chat, Chert” Hello, you have A Way...
The medical term sialogogic, which means “producing saliva,” comes from Greek words meaning “to bring forth saliva.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Sialogogic” A friend of mine sent me a link...
tok cork v. to chat or talk idly. Also talk cork. Etymological Note: Perhaps from English talk (poppy)cock, v., ‘to talk nonsense.’ (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
