zooprophilactic
adj.— «He’s also interested in birds that are what’s called “zooprophilactic.” They may dilute the spread of disease, he said. Doves, pigeons and herons seem to be dead ends for West Nile, he said. Florida has large numbers of them. “If an animal does not transmit it, it’s actually protecting us,” Komar said.» —“Human cases of West Nile dwindle” by Stacey Singer Palm Beach Post (Florida) July 22, 2006. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Chad in Hilliard, Florida, wonders about the expression old as Methuselah, meaning “extremely advanced in years.” The phrase references Methuselah, a figure in Jewish, Islamic, and Christian tradition said to be 969 years old when he...
Carmen in Jacksonville, Florida, was told she was pretty as a speck of puff. The more common simile is pretty as a speckled pup or cute as a speckled pup. This is part of a complete episode.
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