Eric from Millbank, South Dakota, says his grandmother used the term duke’s mixture to denote “a hodgepodge,” such as ingredients in a stew. Duke’s mixture was originally the name of a cheap tobacco that was made from leftover odds and...
While compiling the Oxford English Dictionary, lexicographer James Murray exchanged hundreds of letters a week with authors, advisors, and volunteer researchers. A new collection online lets you eavesdrop on discussions about which words should be...
Jonathan Saha is an associate professor of history at Durham University in England. His latest book is Colonizing Animals: Interspecies Empire in Myanmar (Bookshop|Amazon), which chronicles how the lives of animals were irrevocably changed by...
crab n.— «According to Parker, it didn’t take him and Davis long to spot some “crabs”—a derogatory term for Crips—who were easily identified by their “flags,” or blue bandannas.» —“In Durham, ‘Everybody needs...
Cow Hampshire n.— «Growing up in Dover, Knowles received his undergraduate degree at UNH, and despite teaching at the University of Idaho, he eventually returned to his roots. The state he dubs, “Cow Hampshire...
knot the score v. phr.— «UMass drew even at the 18:48 mark when sophomore center Cory Quirk fed up ice to freshman Will Ortiz, who dipsy-doodled past a UNH defender and fired on net. Versatile senior Mark Matheson was in the right spot to...