tank trap n.— «A former forester for the Uncompahgre National Forest, Cridler asserted that the forest service installed what is known as “tank traps,” water bar-type structures that are designed for logging roads meant to be...
playshop n.— «Meltzer and Williamson refer to them as “playshops” because the intention is to help women to connect to the joyful, spontaneous and fun-loving side of themselves, so often set aside during the daily routine of giving to the...
shuttler n.—Gloss: a badminton player. Note: “Shuttle” is another name for “shuttlecock,” also known as a “birdie,” which is used in badminton. “Shuttler” appears to be most commonly used in...
greenmuting n.— «But not talking about environmental efforts, or “greenmuting,” can be a sin as well. Here’s my list of the “Six Sins of Greenmuting.” » —“”Greenwashing” v. “Greenmuting:...
Nominations for Word of the Year 2007 In this episode, Grant offers peek at some expressions he’s nominating for the American Dialect Society’s Word of the Year vote in January. Will it be “w00t,”...
Finally, just in time for holiday get-togethers, Grant and Martha provide some linguistic family therapy to solve a mother-daughter conflict over whether nummy is a legitimate term. Mom says it’s perfect for describing a delicious meal, but...