A California college student is campaigning for international scientific authorities to adopt the slang term hella as an official prefix indicating a huge number. Will he succeed? Also, how to pronounce niche, the regional terms doppick and nixie...
A veterinarian in Pennsylvania Dutch Country runs into some strange terms. What’s wrong with a dog that’s doppick, or a cat that’s nixie? What does it mean to have your animal dressed? This is part of a complete episode.
Where in the world would you be likely to find sculch in your dooryard, or ask for just a dite of cream in your coffee? Martha has the answers in this minicast about some distinctive regional terms.
banging the close n.— «The CFTC alleges that the defendants employed a manipulative scheme commonly known as “banging” or “marking” the close. “Banging the close” refers to the practice of acquiring a...
boat proctologist n.— «One Dutch Harbor resident, Jeff Whited, who calls himself a “boat proctologist”—that is, someone who goes down into the bowels of a vessel to fix an engine or a prop shaft—said, “I hate these movie stars” while...
where is other.— «It was sold “as is” and “where is,” which is on a 150-acre island that has at various times belonged to the Dutch, the British, the United States Army and the Coast Guard.» —“An Island’s Fire Truck, Idle for...