Pig Zero n.— «There is not yet any genetic proof that this particular flu was ever in a pig. […] Now, scientists say, the hunt is on for what is jokingly being called Pig Zero. “No one that I’m aware of has swabbed pigs for this yet...
Humorist Roy Blount Jr. sits down with Grant for a conversation about the controversy over writers’ rights, the Amazon Kindle 2, Roy’s recent book, Alphabet Juice, “sonicky” words, and noodling for catfish. He also clears up...
In a 1936 episode of Jack Benny’s radio show, a woman says that her father sprained his ankle the night before while truckin’. This has an A Way with Words listener confused; she thought trucking was a term from the 1970s. Grant clears...
Time for another linguistic mystery. Where would you be if you decided to go twacking around duckish, and then you came home and wrote about it in a scribbler?
sleeper n.— «Other mystery words I found while perusing my great-grandfather’s papers were “orehano” and “sleeper.” “I haven’t seen any of Wise’s men lately and I have been helping myself to some of his Orehanos and have...
Time to solve another linguistic mystery. You’re in a restaurant. You overhear a conversation at the next table. The woman says to her friend, “You know, I just love the taste of joe floggers.” And her dining companion replies...