A flashlight emits a steady beam of light. So what’s the flash part of that word about? Also, if you’re a nervous Nellie, you’re skittish and indecisive—both characteristics of an American politician who earned that nickname in the 1920s. And...
A flashlight doesn’t flash. It provides a steady beam of light. So why is it called a flashlight? The earliest versions lit up only briefly before the batteries gave out and required a recharge, so they were literally “flash lights.” Years later, in...
A Twitter user shares a heart-melting observation about his eight-year-old’s habit of reading under the covers at night. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Abetting an Under-the-Cover Reader” Here is one of my all-time favorite...
BoGo n.— «The flashlights usually sell for about $19.95 in American stores, but he has established a BoGo—for Buy One, Give One—program on his Web site.» —“Solar Flashlight Lets Africa’s Sun Deliver the Luxury of Light to the Poorest Villages” by...
dangle n.— «Griffin was a big guy, even without the bulky body armor, helmet, and “dangle”—what soldiers call the bits of gear that they clip, strap, or otherwise buckle to their uniforms. He had half a dozen rifle magazines strapped across his...