Thursday word: wigeon

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

wigeon or widgeon (WIJ-uhn) - n., any of three common freshwater dabbling ducks of the genus Mareca (formerly Anas); a fool.


The three being the Eurasian wigeon (M. penelope), the American wigeon (M. americana) and the Chiloé wigeon (M. sibilatrix) of South America -- but usually the first is what's meant. All three are related to mallards and have a similar shape, though with different coloring in the male:


Thanks, WikiMedia!

The name dates to around the start of the 16th century, but where it came from and how it came to be a now rare if not obsolete term of abuse is unknown.

---L.

Administrative: community maintainer needed

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

I was planning to make this post next Thursday, but I'll be out of pocket that day. So I'm moving the timeline up:

Effective next week, I am stepping down as maintainer of this community, and as regular Thursday poster. This is mainly due to changes in my life, but to be honest I haven't had the time or energy to put into community building for a long time.

So we have openings. Anyone interested?

I'll be available to hand off keys and offer advice, though it may take a day or two to respond to things.

And given that, a bonus word for the day:


administrivia (ad-min-es-TRIV-ee-uh) - n., routine paperwork and other administrative tasks that are regarded as trivial, uninteresting, and time-consuming.

Maintaining a good community, one that enriches your life, is in no way administrivia.

---L.