An Indianapolis listener says her family often refers to strong liquor as hooch, and wonders where that term comes from. The hosts trace the term’s path from an Indian village in Alaska. This is part of a complete episode.
lecherscope n.— «The absence of women was a severe trial, and several home-made telescopes—or “lecherscopes,” as they were called—were assembled in the hope that an unflagging surveillance of the windows of the village houses...
Olympic Village Effect n.— «These frontline toads are reproducing with each other to create what scientists call the “Olympic Village Effect.” They are making fast moving babies with bigger front legs and longer back legs...
doughnuting n.— «It accuses local authorities of defacing once beautiful towns with swathes of characterless new homes and retail parks, with no pubs, shops or sense of community. The process is known as “doughnuting”—named after the ring...
hummus queen n.— «Another demographic was making itself known in the gay Arab-American world: “hummus queens”— gay men attracted to Arabs. Not that all hummus queens were on the make: One attended to seek advice on how to help...
god bump n.— «As we climbed up the mountain, we met the pastor of the village and he said that he had been praying for two years for help.…I got what I call “God bumps” on the back of my neck because I realized that I...