In this episode, books for word lovers, from a collection of curious words to some fun with Farsi. • Some people yell “Geronimo!” when they jump out of an airplane, but why? • We call something that heats air a heater, so why do we call something...
There’s a word for the first person to walk through your door on New Year’s Day. The word is quaaltagh, and it’s used on the Isle of Man. This Manx term is one of many linguistic delights in a book Martha recommends for word lovers: The Cabinet of...
In Ireland, the word omadhaun means “a foolish person.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Omadhaun” Not often that I’m reading a newspaper article that sends me running to the dictionary, but I had to recently for the word amadan. O...
longy n.— «The Manx Cat is a tail less breed of cat, but there are a few variations. Some have a hollow where the tail should be, they’re called “rumpies.” Others have the beginnings of a tail, they’re called “risers.” Those with a slightly longer...
stumpy n.— «The Manx Cat is a tail less breed of cat, but there are a few variations. Some have a hollow where the tail should be, they’re called “rumpies.” Others have the beginnings of a tail, they’re called “risers.” Those with a slightly longer...
riser n.— «The Manx Cat is a tail less breed of cat, but there are a few variations. Some have a hollow where the tail should be, they’re called “rumpies.” Others have the beginnings of a tail, they’re called “risers.” Those with a slightly longer...