Word of the Day!

Spudger - noun.

Ah, the spudger just another whatsis and doohickey for an IT person's junk drawer! It's a tool used for opening and replacing small components such as batteries, without damaging parts. Allegedly, the origin of the name is spuddle, a Middle English word for "short knife".

By Michael Anderson - Own work, Public Domain, Link

Vorfreude - noun.

Vorfreude is a highly specific German word describing the joy one feels anticipating an event, such as Christmas or meeting up with a good friend. It's a compound word made of vor (before) and freude (joy).

Mascaron - noun.

These fabulous faces, whether human, animal or mythical creature, are often found decorating buildings or other objects. Mascarons are a worldwide and ancient phenomenon, although most people would know them from architecture.

By VVVCFFrance - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

I have to backdate a couple of entries as I was on vacation and DW doesn't have post scheduling :-)

Zoysias - noun.

Something which surprised me as a know-it-all teenager years ago is that there were different names--and types--of grass!

Zoysia is a creeping grass usually found in Korea, Japan and other Pacific places. Named after Slovenian botanist Karl von Zois, the grass requires a lot of water, but is also very durable to foot traffic and use. The grass grows slowly, so frequent mowing is not necessary.

By hey skinny from san diego, usa - Flickr, CC BY 2.0, Link

Kamsin - noun.

Sometimes spelled khamsin, chamsin, khamaseen or hamsin, this hot, dry wind appears every spring in Middle Eastern countries such as Israel, Egypt, Iran and even parts of the Mediterranean!

The name is derived from the Arabic word for "fifty" as the the wind blows over a fifty day time period in spring. The fierce gusts can last several hours, move large quantities of sand and even result in a drop in humidity!

Jouska - noun.

I hemmed and hawed over creating an entry for this word. I first found it on a list of words circulating around Facebook. As we all know, many non-English languages have words for the intangible, like weltschmerz. Author John Koenig made up his own dictionary of words for intangible feelings. It's The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows.

From jouska's entry:

a hypothetical conversation that you compulsively play out in your head—a crisp analysis, a devastating comeback, a cathartic heart-to-heart—which serves as a kind of psychological batting cage that feels far more satisfying than the small-ball strategies of everyday life.

French jusqu’à, until. In baseball, “small ball” is a cautious offensive strategy devoted to getting on base via walks, bunts, and steals, forgoing the big home run moments that fans tend to enjoy. Pronounced “zhoos-ka.”

Couloir - noun.

Meaning "passage" or "corridor" in French, a couloir is a steep gully found on sides of mountains.

CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

Lavalava - noun.

Continuing with interesting names for skirts, I present the lavalava which is a simple wraparound skirt worn by men, women, and children. Found in Polynesian places like Samoa and Tonga, contemporary lavalavas come in a variety of fabrics and some may even contain pockets.

By Pfc. Vanessa M. American Horse - This image was released by the United States Marine Corps with the ID 100414-M-4787A-004 .

Fustanella - noun.

full_metal_ox was not wrong suggesting a whole series could be done on men's skirts after I made an entry about the sulu. In fact, skirts are for anyone!

The fustanella is a short, pleated men's skirt popular in Balkan countries and Greece. In fact, it's part of the Greek and Albanian national costumes. You can read about the historical origins and usage on Wikipedia.

By Unknown author - ipfs.io Archive: Manachia Brothers., Public Domain, Link

Hellbender - noun.

Despite it's name, hellbenders are completely harmless salamanders who are both predator and prey! The salamanders, sometimes called snot otters are a vulnerable species found in Eastern US streams and rivers.

The name is thought to be derived from its striking appearance, as if it emerged from hell.

By Brian Gratwicke - originally posted to Flickr as Hellbender, CC BY 2.0, Link