Strumpet is an old insult for a prostitute or a woman supposedly of loose morals, though today it often sounds more theatrical than venomous, closer to trollop or floozy. Quincy in San Diego heard it from his wife during the COVID-19 lockdown, when...
In the Scots language, pree means “to taste” or “sample.” If you pree someone’s mouth, then you give them a kiss on the lips. It’s a variant of the word prove, and cognate with Spanish probar, to “taste...
John Chaneski brings us a crossword-lover’s quiz built from clues that read one way and answer another. A four-letter clue such as “First Place” points not to a rank but to a famously original location, and the rest play similar tricks with phrases...
An honorable mention in the pangram contest at Wordsmith.org: Brexit loved by many fans who are creating quick word puzzles just now. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Brexit Pangram” Music Music Music Music Music Music...
An aglu, also spelled agloo, is a seal’s breathing hole in a sheet of ice. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Aglu or Agloo” Grant, I have a word I know you need if you don’t have it already. Okay, agglue, a-g...
Maribel in Montgomery, Alabama, reached for to boot after grumbling over a crossword clue, assistance in Alabama, whose answer was hep. In to boot, the boot isn’t footwear. It goes back to Old English bot, meaning an advantage or a remedy, so...
