What does dog hair have to do with hangover cures? Also, where’d we ever get a word like “dude”? And what’s the word for when unexpected objects form a recognizable image, like a cloud that looks like a bunny, or the image of Elvis...
chitting n.— «Then sprout the potatoes before you plant them. This time-honored process, known as “chitting,” gives them a head start and often increases your eventual yield.» —“How to Spur On Early Spuds” by...
doom loop n.— «Companies that don’t go through this process will be facing even greater risks. Startups that rely solely on cutting could head into a downward spiral if revenue doesn’t increase enough to offset low margins. That could...
Kent in Dallas grew up calling the groove between the nose and upper lip a berber, a childhood coinage that even a makeup-counter consultant briefly adopted. The standard anatomical word is philtrum, also called the infranasal depression. It comes...
hats and bats n.pl.— «Over the last decade, there has been running disagreement within the LAPD about when and where to deploy so-called tactical gear (in police parlance, “hats and bats”) and whether the equipment officers...
Howdy and happy new year! It's another newsletter from "A Way with Words." Last week there was no newsletter as we celebrated the new year by hauling our dictionaries out of the low-hanging winter sun. We wish they were...