Halloo and hiya! Here's another podcast from A Way with Words. When you were a child and wanted to lay claim to something, what did you say? Did you call "dibs"? Or did you "hosey" it? A caller is curious about another verb...
way back n.—Gloss: the backmost area of a station wagon (British: estate car), usually used for portage or storage. «I dare say that most people who are parents now never rode in a car seat as children. Many of us didn’t even use the car...
ten-twent-thirt n.— «The result has been, so the theatre managers themselves agree, not only the practical extinction of the cheaper melodramas which used to cater to “the masses,” the “ten-twent-thirts,” as they...
right seat, left seat n.— «All deploying and redeploying units have an overlap time so the new unit can learn the battlespace from the previous one. The process is called “right-seat, left-seat.” New units coming into the area ride along...
witness mark n.— «The location, shape and dimensions of this rectangle of witness marks [impressions on Mrs. Borsack’s shirt] clearly matches the width and shape of the seat belt webbing.» —“Expert Testimony Raises Questions Whether...
bombing n.— «They have no headlights, tail lamps or turn signals. No steering wheels, seat belts or seats. No brakes. Yet they travel at speeds reaching beyond 40 mph on public streets and highways. They’re oversized, low-profile...