Brian in San Antonio, Texas, wonders about the origin of the pinking in the term pinking shears. Such shears cut an even, zigzag pattern that keeps cloth from fraying at the edges. Pinking likely comes from French piquer, meaning to...
Why is an insulated sleeve for a beverage called a koozie, often spelled koozy, coozy, coozie, and other ways? Any relation to a tea cozy used to keep a teapot warm? In Australia, a coozie is often called a stubby holder, a stubby or stubbie being...
ambulance-chasing n.— «Socially determined objectives must thus lead and direct this effort, not become relegated to “ambulance chasing,” following behind a series of technically compelling yet socially questionable...
gun v.— «The present invention relates to a process for the repair of blast furnaces. More specifically, it relates to a method of repairing blast furnaces using a vertical remote controlled refractory gunning apparatus.…U.S. Pat...
quillow n.— «Word Mark QUILLOW. Goods and Services (Cancelled) IC 024. US 042. G & S: Decorative Pillow Cases. First Use: 19780125. First Use In Commerce: 19780222.» —by Alison R. Crowther in Pomona, N.Y. United States...
overhang n.— «Uncertainty over Lipitor had been a cloud over Pfizer, or an “overhang,” in Wall Street lingo.» —“Pfizer’s Lipitor patent win rallies drug stocks” by George E. Jordan Star-Ledger (N.J...