isolette n.— «As all 11 students gathered around the incubator, or isolette as it is also known, the campers got a crash course in medical terminology that was not part of their vernacular. » —“Campers gather at...
grinding n.— «Irons off the tees, safe approach shots. Nothing frivolous or stupid. And, as Woods said, “a lot of grinding,” golfing vernacular for heavy breathing before every shot. And after.» —“Tiger back on big-game...
plyometrics n.— «Plyometrics found its way into the American vernacular in the late 80s when it was discovered that it was the secret to the Russian’s success in the Olympics.» —“How I spent my summer vacation” by Brady...
Bugs Bunny changeup n.— «The newest entry into the baseball vernacular is “Bugs Bunny changeup.” Translation: It rushes up to the plate and then suddenly stops. Sarver fed the Gamecocks carrots and lettuce all night...
freeter n.— «Some young people choose to live on a series of part-time jobs rather than look for a permanent one. In the local vernacular, they’re called “freeters,” a combination of “free” and...
abbaco n.— «In marked contrast to the Jesuits, Piarists taught in the vernacular, not Latin, and over philosophical mathematics they favoured “abbaco”, or mercantile arithmetic.» —“Sins of the fathers” by...