Vocabulation

Seven hundred and fifty+ obscure words, neologisms, foreign borrowings etc Fill your boots!

Word and definition	Source/first encountered	Comment
Aasvogel – south african vulture
Abitur (in Germany) a set of examinations taken in the final year of secondary school.
Acapnia – deficiency of c02 in blood/tissues	FT crossword 2023 02 04
accismus, a form of irony in which a person feigns indifference to or pretends to refuse something he or she desires.
Acedia (/əˈsiːdiə/; also accidie or accedie /ˈæksɪdi/, from Latin acēdia, and this from Greek ἀκηδία, “negligence”, ἀ- “lack of” -κηδία “care”) has been variously defined as a state of listlessness or torpor, of not caring or not being concerned with one’s position or condition in the world.
Acicular, in mineralogy, refers to a crystal habit composed of slender, needle-like crystals. Crystals with this habit tend to be fragile. Complete, undamaged acicular specimens are uncommon. The term “acicular” derives from the Late Latin “acicula” meaning “little needle”
acidulous – sharp-tasting; sour. (of a person’s remarks or tone) bitter; cutting.
Actinic (Solar page 118) Actinism is the property of solar radiation that leads to the production of photochemical and photobiological effects
Adiabatic /ˌeɪdʌɪəˈbatɪk,ˌadɪəˈbatɪk/ PHYSICS adjective relating to or denoting a process or condition in which heat does not enter or leave the system concerned. “the adiabatic expansion of a perfect gas”
adjure /əˈdʒʊə,əˈdʒɔː/ verbFORMAL gerund or present participle: adjuring urge or request (someone) solemnly or earnestly to do something. “I adjure you to tell me the truth”
Adunc – Curved inwards or hooked	FT crossword 2023 07 15
The addax, also known as the white antelope and the screwhorn antelope, is an antelope native to the Sahara Desert.	FT crossword 2023 07 15
Adiaphora is the plural of the Greek word adiaphoron, which refers to a thing that exists outside of moral categories, something that in and of itself is neither approved nor condemned. Adiaphora literally means “indifferent things.”	We Are The People of the Apocalypse John F. Schumaker
Adronitis Frustration with how long it takes to get to know someone.
Adventitious happening as a result of an external factor or chance rather than design or inherent nature.
Aeromancy (from Greek ἀήρ aḗr, “air”, and manteia, “divination”) is divination that is conducted by interpreting atmospheric conditions. Alternate spellings include “arologie”, “aeriology”, and “aërology”
aestivation /ˌiːstɪˈveɪʃ(ə)n,ˌɛstɪˈveɪʃ(ə)n/ noun noun: estivation 1. ZOOLOGY prolonged torpor or dormancy of an insect, fish, or amphibian during a hot or dry period. 2. BOTANY the arrangement of petals and sepals in a flower bud before it opens.
Afrit  or afreet  evil djinn
Agapanthus Some species of Agapanthus are commonly known as lily of the Nile (or African lily in the UK), although they are not lilies and all of the species are native to South Africa, from the Cape of Good Hope to the Limpopo River
An agaric (/ˈæɡərɪk, əˈɡærɪk/) is a type of mushroom[1] fungus fruiting body characterized by the presence of a pileus (cap) that is clearly differentiated from the stipe (stalk), with lamellae (gills) on the underside of the pileus.
Aglet end of a shoelace
Aggressively-Ignorant (Adjective) – A category of person or organization that goes out of their way to avoid knowing or learning about something so as to avoid responsibility or duty to act. Usually associated with someone who exhibits either a general lack of intellectural curiosity or just plain burned out in their careers so they don’t even try to improve themselves. These individuals are motivated by a strong desire to be the opposite of the “go-to-guy” so as to discourage requests for help or challenging assignments.
Akrasia (/əˈkreɪziə/; Greek ἀκρασία, “lacking command” or “weakness”, occasionally transliterated as acrasia or Anglicised as acrasy or acracy) is a lack of self-control or acting against one’s better judgment.
Aigrette a headdress consisting of a white egret’s feather or other decoration such as a spray of gems.
An alembic (from Arabic: الإنبيق, romanized: al-inbīq, originating from Ancient Greek: ἄμβιξ, romanized: ambix, ‘cup, beaker’)[1][2][3] is an alchemical still consisting of two vessels connected by a tube, used for distillation of liquids.
alethophobia – (uncountable) (psychology) A fear or dislike of the truth; an unwillingness to come to terms with truth or facts.
Algolagnia (/ælɡəˈlæɡniə/; from Greek: ἄλγος, álgos, “pain”, and Greek: λαγνεία, lagneía, “lust”) is a sexual tendency which is defined by deriving sexual pleasure and stimulation from physical pain,[1] often involving an erogenous zone.	reading the wikipedia entry about Swinburne
aliquot a portion of a larger whole, especially a sample taken for chemical analysis or other treatment. “an aliquot was examined daily for the appearance of cholesterol monohydrate crystals”
allocution– formal speech giving warning or advice
Almoner nounHISTORICAL an official distributor of alms.
In the biology of birds and mammals, altricial species are those in which the young are underdeveloped at the time of birth, but with the aid of their parents mature after birth. Precocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normally nidifugous, meaning that they leave the nest shortly after birth or hatching. These categories form a continuum, without distinct gaps between them.
Althea (bush) Althea, shrub althea, shrub althaea and rose of althea, common names for Hibiscus syriacus, an ornamental plant that is South Korea’s national flower
Altschmerz Weariness with the same old issues that you’ve always had — the same boring flaws and anxieties that you’ve been gnawing on for years.
An alum (/ˈæləm/) is a type of chemical compound, usually a hydrated double sulfate salt of aluminium with the general formula XAl(SO
Alyssum is a genus of over a hundred species of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae, native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, with the highest species diversity in the Mediterranean region. The genus comprises annual and perennial herbaceous plants or (rarely) small shrubs, growing to 10–100 cm tall, with oblong-oval leaves. Alyssum flowers are characteristically small and grouped in terminal clusters;[1] they are often yellow or white colored but can be pink or purple.	Alison Lurie The Nowhere City
Altricial (of a young bird or other animal) hatched or born helpless and requiring significant parental care. (of a particular species) having altricial young.
The term amphibolic (Ancient Greek: ἀμφίβολος, romanized: amphibolos, lit. ‘ambiguous, struck on both sides’) is used to describe a biochemical pathway that involves both catabolism and anabolism.
A flashback (sometimes called an analepsis) is an interjected scene that takes the narrative back in time from the current point in the story.
anadiplosis, (Greek: “doubling” or “repetition,”) a device in which the last word or phrase of one clause, sentence, or line is repeated at the beginning of the next. An example is the phrase that is repeated between stanzas one and two of John Keats’s poem “The Eve of St. Agnes”
Anansi (/əˈnɑːnsi/ ə-NAHN-see; literally translates to spider) is an Akan folktale character and the god of stories, wisdom, knowledge, and trickery, most commonly depicted as a spider, in Akan religion.
anapaest/ˈanəpiːst,ˈanapɛst/ nounPROSODY a metrical foot consisting of two short or unstressed syllables followed by one long or stressed syllable.
Anecdoche A conversation in which everyone is talking, but nobody is listening.
The anhinga (/ænˈhɪŋɡə/; Anhinga anhinga), sometimes called snakebird, darter, American darter, or water turkey, is a water bird of the warmer parts of the Americas. The word anhinga comes from a’ñinga in the Brazilian Tupi language and means “devil bird” or “snake bird”.[2] The origin of the name is apparent when swimming: only the neck appears above water, so the bird looks like a snake ready to strike. They do not have external nares (nostrils) and breathe solely through their epiglottis.
Anocracy or semi-democracy[1] is a form of government that is loosely defined as part democracy and part dictatorship,[2][3] or as a “regime that mixes democratic with autocratic features.”[3] Another definition classifies anocracy as “a regime that permits some means of participation through opposition group behavior but that has incomplete development of mechanisms to redress grievances.”
An antimacassar /ˌæntɪməˈkæsər/ is a small cloth placed over the backs or arms of chairs, or the head or cushions of a sofa, to prevent soiling of the permanent fabric underneath.
Aphantasia nounMEDICINE the inability to form mental images of objects that are not present. “if counting sheep is an abstract concept, or you are unable to visualize the faces of loved ones, you could have aphantasia”
apocope – omission of the final sound of a word, as when cup of tea is pronounced as cuppa tea.	Vuillard The order of the day
Apolaustic – devoted to enjoyment
Apophthegm – a concise saying or maxim; an aphorism.
The tendency to perceive meaningful connections between unrelated things.[17] The following are types of apophenia:
Aporia an irresolvable internal contradiction or logical disjunction in a text, argument, or theory. “the celebrated aporia whereby a Cretan declares all Cretans to be liars”
Aposiopesis /ˌapə(ʊ)ˌsʌɪəˈpiːsɪs/ nounRHETORIC the device of suddenly breaking off in speech. “in coping with the unsaid and unsayable, oral history is impelled towards aposiopesis”
Apotropaic – supposedly having the power to avert evil influences or bad luck.	With Child by Andy Martin, page 260
Appui – reciprocal motion between horse’s mouth and rider.	FT crossword 2023 02 04
apro·​tic (ˌ)ā-ˈprō-tik. of a solvent. : incapable of acting as a proton donor.
An aptronym, aptonym, or euonym is a personal name aptly or peculiarly suited to it owner.
Arabizi, which replaces some letters in the official Romanised version with numbers that better resemble Arabic script,
Arales is an order of flowering plants
Architraves are a style of moulding that frames the edges of rectangular structures such as windows, doors, or other openings. An architrave covers the gap between the wall and the door or window frame, hiding the joins or disguising movement and shrinkage between the two.
Aralia /əˈreɪliə/,[1] or spikenard, is a genus of the family Araliaceae, consisting of 68 accepted species of deciduous or evergreen trees, shrubs, and rhizomatous herbaceous perennials.	Bones of Coral p.239
Aramid fibers, short for aromatic polyamide, are a class of heat-resistant and strong synthetic fibers. They are used in aerospace and military applications, for ballistic-rated body armor fabric and ballistic composites, in marine cordage, marine hull reinforcement, as an asbestos substitute,[1] and in various lightweight consumer items ranging from phone cases to tennis rackets
Pergolas are sometimes confused with “arbors,” as the terms are used interchangeably. Generally, an “arbor” is regarded as wooden bench seats with a roof, usually enclosed by lattice panels forming a framework for climbing plants;
Arcuate shaped like a bow; curved. “the arcuate sweep of the chain of islands”	looked it up for crossword
Argentium sterling silver … Argentium silver (patented in 1998) is a brand of modern tarnish-resistant silver alloys, containing either 94% or 96% silver.
aril /ˈarɪl/ nounBOTANY an extra seed covering, typically coloured and hairy or fleshy, e.g. the red fleshy cup around a yew seed.
Arnica is a homeopathic herb used to treat aches, pains, and bruises. Arnica plants have long, downy leaves, and the flowers are daisy-like.
arum, (genus Arum), genus of about 32 species of low-growing tuberous perennial plants in the family Araceae. Several are cultivated as ornamentals in mild climates, and plants of the genus are not hardy much below freezing temperatures. All parts of arum plants are considered poisonous and contain calcium oxalate.
In all these cases, the goods on which society depends have been privatised in the name of encouraging market competition, but with results that look nothing at all like a ‘free’ market, and with predictable beneficiaries. These goods haven’t just been privatised, but ‘assetised’, in the sense that they have been packaged up, quantified and managed in ways that suit the calculations and interests of financiers (William Davies, LRB,  Vol 46,no 7)
Ashlar (/ˈæʃlər/) is finely dressed (cut, worked) stone, either an individual stone that has been worked until squared, or a structure built from such stones. Ashlar is the finest stone masonry unit, generally rectangular cuboid, mentioned by Vitruvius as opus isodomum, or less frequently trapezoidal. Precisely cut “on all faces adjacent to those of other stones”, ashlar is capable of very thin joints between blocks, and the visible face of the stone may be quarry-faced or feature a variety of treatments: tooled, smoothly polished or rendered with another material for decorative effect.[1][2]
aspaklaria (Noun) [Talmudic – etym. Greek/Hebrew/Aramaic]  Window glass  Prism  Magnifying lens  Mirror  {Metaphorical} Prophetic vision  However one translates it, an Aspaklaria is a tool for seeing differently: Dispelling darkness, diffracting light, bringing ourselves and our world (and beyond our world) into clear focus.
Aster is a genus of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Its circumscription has been narrowed, and it now encompasses around 170 species, all but one of which are restricted to Eurasia; many species formerly in Aster are now in other genera of the tribe Astereae. Aster amellus is the type species of the genus and the family Asteraceae.[1] The name Aster comes from the Ancient Greek word ἀστήρ (astḗr), meaning “star”, referring to the shape of the flower head.
Astragalomancy is often considered to be a branch of cleromancy. As a form of sortition, numbers are scrawled into the dice; the numbers are associated with letters, thus bearing on the questions of the diviner. The diviner then casts the dice, resulting in a random sequence of numbers
Astrakhan Astrakhan (also spelled astrachan) is, properly speaking, the tightly curled fleece of the fetal or newborn karakul (also spelled caracul) lamb.  Less accurately, it can also refer to the fleece of fetal or newborn lambs from other species, or a knitted or woven fabric that imitates the looped surface. Astrakhan has a distinctive tight, whorled, loopy surface with a slight sheen. The younger the lamb, the tighter and shinier the loop
Asyndeton the omission or absence of a conjunction between parts of a sentence, as in I came, I saw, I conquered.
atactic (comparative more atactic, superlative most atactic) (medicine) Of or pertaining to ataxia. (chemistry) Describing any regular polymer or other macromolecule in which the orientation of the subunits is random.balabosteh. A Jewish housewife; the word carries complimentary overtones. (Yiddish). (The Dyke and the Dybbuk, p 188)atactic (comparative more atactic, superlative most atactic) (medicine) Of or pertaining to ataxia. (chemistry) Describing any regular polymer or other macromolecule in which the orientation of the subunits is random.
Attainder HISTORICAL the forfeiture of land and civil rights suffered as a consequence of a sentence of death for treason or felony.
Aufbau In atomic physics and quantum chemistry, the Aufbau principle, also called the Aufbau rule, states that in the ground state of an atom or ion, electrons first fill subshells of the lowest available energy, then fill subshells of higher energy. For example, the 1s subshell is filled before the 2s subshell is occupied.	(Buchan, 1995:132)
Auslese (German: [ˈaʊ̯sˌleːzə], lit. ‘selected harvest’; plural form is Auslesen) is a German language wine term for a late harvest wine and is a riper category than Spätlese in the Prädikatswein category of the Austrian and German wine classification.
Azolla (mosquito fern, duckweed fern, fairy moss, water fern) is a genus of seven species of aquatic ferns in the family Salviniaceae.
Penis bones, or bacula, are found in several groups of mammals—scientists remember them with the mnemonic PRICC (Primates, but not humans; Rodents; Insectivores, like hedgehogs; Carnivores, like dogs and seals; and Chiroptera, bats
balabosteh. A Jewish housewife; the word carries complimentary overtones. (Yiddish).	(The Dyke and the Dybbuk, p 188)
Balsam  a. : an aromatic and usually oily and resinous substance flowing from various plants. especially : any of several resinous substances containing benzoic or cinnamic acid and used especially in medicine. b. : a preparation containing resinous substances and having a balsamic odor.
A bain-marie (English: /ˌbænməˈriː/; French pronunciation: [bɛ̃ maʁi]), also known as a water bath or double boiler, a type of heated bath, is a piece of equipment used in science, industry, and cooking to heat materials gently or to keep materials warm over a period of time. A bain-marie is also used to melt ingredients for cooking.	From Guardian article on cricket 17/11/2023
Ban-Lon (sometimes spelled BanLon or Banlon) is a trademarked, multistrand, continuous-filament synthetic yarn used in the retail clothing industry. It was created in 1954 by Joseph Bancroft & Sons Company, by applying a process for crimping yarn to nylon in order to achieve greater bulk than ordinary yarns.[1][2] It became popular for outerwear, swimsuits, sweaters and hose. It is frequently associated with 1950s and 1960s American clothing and culture	The Big Fix by Roger L Simon
Bannock a kind of bread, cooked on a stone or griddle served mainly in Scotland but consumed throughout the British Isles	Sarah Moss (2018) Ghost Wall.
The common barbel (Barbus barbus) is a species of freshwater fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae. It shares the common name ‘barbel’ with its many relatives in the genus Barbus, of which it is the type species. In Great Britain it is usually referred to simply as the barbel; similar names are used elsewhere in Europe, such as barbeau in France and flodbarb in Sweden.[2] The name derives from the four whiskerlike structures located at the corners of the fish’s mouth, which it uses to locate food	Cast in order of disappearance by Simon Brett
Barathea wool was born in England as a mourning cloth. The fabric can be made from cotton, wool, silk or synthetic blends. It is usually made from worsted yarns in a close twill hopsack or broken rib weave.	March Violets by Philip Kerr
A barcarolle (/ˈbɑːrkəˌroʊl/; from French, also barcarole; originally, Italian barcarola or barcaruola, from barca ‘boat’)[1] is a traditional folk song sung by Venetian gondoliers, or a piece of music composed in that style. In classical music, two of the most famous barcarolles are Jacques Offenbach‘s “Belle nuit, ô nuit d’amour“, from his opera The Tales of Hoffmann; and Frédéric Chopin‘s Barcarolle in F-sharp major for solo piano.	Miller, J. 1999. Is Bad Writing Necessary?
In some schools of Buddhism, bardo (Classical Tibetan: བར་དོ་ Wylie: bar do) or antarābhava (Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese: 中有, romanized in Chinese as zhōng yǒu and in Japanese as chū’u)[1] is an intermediate, transitional, or liminal state between death and rebirth. The concept arose soon after Gautama Buddha‘s death, with a number of earlier Buddhist schools accepting the existence of such an intermediate state, while other schools rejected it.
Barrette a typically bar-shaped clip or ornament for the hair; a hairslide.
Basque A basque is an item of women‘s clothing. The term, of French origin, originally referred to types of bodice or jacket with long tails, and in later usage a long corset, characterized by a close, contoured fit and extending past the waistline over the hips. It is so called because the original French fashion for long women’s jackets was adopted from Basque traditional dress. In contemporary usage it refers only to a long item of lingerie, in effect a brassiere that continues down, stopping around the waist or the top of the hips, the lower part essentially decorative rather than providing support or indeed warmth.
Batik is an Indonesian technique of wax-resist dyeing applied to the whole cloth. This technique originated from the island of Java, Indonesia.
batrachian noun a tailless amphibian of the order Anura; a frog or toad.
battels – (at Oxford University) a college account for food and accommodation expenses.
Bayard – one who has all the self-confidence of ignorance.	Susie Dent tweet 6 Oct 2022
Bend sinister noun. heraldry. a diagonal line bisecting a shield from the top right to the bottom left, typically indicating a bastard line.
Citrus bergamia, the bergamot orange (pronounced /ˈbɜːrɡəmɒt/), is a fragrant citrus fruit the size of an orange, with a yellow or green colour similar to a lime, depending on ripeness. Genetic research into the ancestral origins of extant citrus cultivars found bergamot orange to be a probable hybrid of lemon and bitter orange
beskonfliktnost  a society in which conflict had been transcended, as Overy notes, the Soviets had a word for this – beskonfliktnost – meaning “no conflict at all”
bêtise a foolish or ill-timed remark or action.	A tweet
Bezel a grooved ring holding the cover of a watch face or other instrument in position.
A bezoar is a mass often found trapped in the gastrointestinal system,[2] though it can occur in other locations.[3][4] A pseudobezoar is an indigestible object introduced intentionally into the digestive system.	Utz by Bruce Chatwin, p.13
Bialy,[a] originally from the city of Białystok in Poland, is a traditional bread roll in Polish Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine.	The big Fix by Roger L. simon
Bifold – folding doors!
Bilberries or blueberries are primarily Eurasian low-growing shrubs in the genus Vaccinium (family Ericaceae), bearing edible, dark blue berries.	Sarah Moss (2018) Ghost Wall.
A bijection, bijective function, or one-to-one correspondence between two mathematical sets is a function such that each element of the second set (the codomain) is mapped to from exactly one element of the first set (the domain). Equivalently, a bijection is a relation between two sets such that each element of either set is paired with exactly one element of the other set.
Bismuth element
bisseurs (encore-ers) simply clapped and cried “Bis! Bis!”
Blanco (verb) blan·​co. ˈblaŋ(ˌ)kō -ed/-ing/-es. : to whiten with Blanco whitening.
Blepharospasm (also called benign essential blepharospasm) is blinking or other eyelid movements, like twitching, that you can’t control. Eyelid twitching usually goes away on its own. But people with benign essential blepharospasm can develop severe and chronic (long-term) eyelid twitching.
A blintz (Hebrew: חֲבִיתִית; Yiddish: בלינצע) is a rolled filled pancake in Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine, similar to a crepe or Russian blini.
bodkin /ˈbɒdkɪn/ noun 1. a thick, blunt needle with a large eye, used for drawing tape or cord through a hem. 2. PRINTING a pointed tool used for removing pieces of metal type for correction.	Philip Kerr If the Dead Rise Not
Bokkepootjes means “goat’s feet”. A lovely and sweet mixture of biscuit, almonds and cream filling. This is a luxury biscuit,
Bole the stem or trunk of a tree.
Bolo /ˈbəʊləʊ/ noun a large single-edged knife used in the Philippines.
boscage /ˈbɒskɪdʒ/ noun a mass of trees or shrubs. “the view from the house is obscured by boscage”
bosky /ˈbɒski/ adjective LITERARY covered by trees or bushes; wooded. “a slow-moving river meandering between bosky banks” can also mean drunk!
A bothy is a basic shelter, usually left unlocked and available for anyone to use free of charge. It was also a term for basic accommodation, usually for gardeners or other workers on an estate. (Moss, 2009: 8)
In a short book on the topic, the late Princeton philosopher Harry Frankfurt defined bullshit specifically as speech intended to persuade without regard to the truth. Throughout the 2010s this appeared to become an increasingly common practice among political leaders. With the rise of generative AI and technologies such as ChatGPT, we could see the rise of a phenomenon my colleagues and I label “botshit”.	https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/03/botshit-generative-ai-imminent-threat-democracy
Bouclé is a looped yarn or the resulting fabric woven from this yarn. A reel of handspun bouclé yarn in blue, purple and pink	Philip Kerr If the dead rise not
Bouleverse upset
Bourn – a small stream, especially one that flows intermittently or seasonally.	Polly Toynbee article
Boustrophedon /ˌbaʊstrəˈfiːd(ə)n,ˌbuːstrəˈfiːd(ə)n adjective written from right to left and from left to right in alternate lines. “the number of Attic boustrophedon texts is fairly small”
bract /brakt/ nounBOTANY noun: bract; plural noun: bracts a modified leaf or scale, typically small, with a flower or flower cluster in its axil. Bracts are sometimes larger and more brightly coloured than the true flower, as in poinsettia.
Brane In string theory and related theories such as supergravity theories, a brane is a physical object that generalizes the notion of a point particle to higher dimensions. Branes are dynamical objects which can propagate through spacetime according to the rules of quantum mechanics. They have mass and can have other attributes such as charge.
Brassica (/ˈbræsɪkə/) is a genus of plants in the cabbage and mustard family (Brassicaceae). The members of the genus are informally known as cruciferous vegetables, cabbages, or mustard plants. Crops from this genus are sometimes called cole crops—derived from the Latin caulis, denoting the stem or stalk of a plant.[2] The genus Brassica is known for its important agricultural and horticultural crops and also includes a number of weeds, both of wild taxa and escapees from cultivation. Brassica species and varieties commonly used for food include bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, choy sum, kohlrabi, napa cabbage, rutabaga, turnip and some seeds used in the production of canola oil and the condiment mustard.
Breeching was the occasion when a small boy was first dressed in breeches or trousers. From the mid-16th century[1] until the late 19th or early 20th century, young boys in the Western world were unbreeched and wore gowns or dresses until an age that varied between two and eight.[2] Various forms of relatively subtle differences usually enabled others to tell little boys from little girls, in codes that modern art historians are able to understand but may be difficult for the layperson to discern. Breeching was an important rite of passage in the life of a boy, looked forward to with much excitement, and often celebrated with a small party. It often marked the point at which the father became more involved with the raising of a boy.
Breviary a book containing prayers, hymns, and readings especially for priests for each day of the year.
brichtness Shining, reflecting much light
The brit milah (Hebrew: בְּרִית מִילָה‎, Modern Israeli: [bʁit miˈla], Ashkenazi: [bʁis ˈmilə]; “covenant of circumcision“) or bris (Yiddish: ברית‎, pronounced [bʁɪs]) is the ceremony of circumcision in Judaism and Samaritanism.[1]
aerospace planners call it “brochuremanship,” the tendency of contractors to make wild claims about the effectiveness of proposed weapons systems.
The Bromeliaceae (the bromeliads) are a family of monocot flowering plants of about 80 genera and 3700 known species,[2] native mainly to the tropical Americas, with several species found in the American subtropics and one in tropical west Africa, Pitcairnia feliciana. https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/bromeliads
brougham a light carriage (= a road vehicle pulled by horses that was used in the past) with four wheels and a roof, and an open seat for the driver at the front:	seen it before, but Bret Harte’s “The Stolen Cigar Case.“
Browntop is a common name for several grasses and may refer to: Agrostis capillaris, or browntop bent Brachiaria ramosa, or browntop millet Microstegium
Bunraku (文楽) (also known as Ningyō jōruri (人形浄瑠璃)) is a form of traditional Japanese puppet theatre, founded in Osaka in the beginning of the 17th century, which is still performed in the modern day.[1] Three kinds of performers take part in a bunraku performance: the Ningyōtsukai or Ningyōzukai (puppeteers), the tayū (chanters), and shamisen musicians. Occasionally other instruments such as taiko drums will be used. The combination of chanting and shamisen playing is called jōruri and the Japanese word for puppet (or dolls, generally) is ningyō. It is used in many plays.
Burdock is a traditional medicinal herb used for many ailments. Burdock root oil extract, also called bur oil, is used in Europe as a scalp treatment.	Sarah Moss (2018) Ghost Wall.
A busbar is installed within a power distribution board and is designed to connect circuit devices to isolation devices. Domestic busbars are simply plugged into the bottom of the relevant devices and secured into place.
A bushing or rubber bushing is a type of vibration isolator. It provides an interface between two parts, damping the energy transmitted through the bushing.
Buskin calf-high or knee-high boot of cloth or leather. a thick-soled laced boot worn by an ancient Athenian tragic actor to gain height.
A cabana is a small, sometimes portable changing room near a swimming pool or beach. You may put your bikini on in a cabana before diving into the cold ocean water. A traditional cabana is a tent that can be moved from one spot to another on the beach.
caitiff /ˈkeɪtɪf/ nounARCHAIC a contemptible or cowardly person. “a caitiff knight”
The cakewalk was a dance developed from the “prize walks” (dance contests with a cake awarded as the prize) held in the mid-19th century, generally at get-togethers on Black slave plantations before and after emancipation in the Southern United States. Alternative names for the original form of the dance were “chalkline-walk”, and the “walk-around”. It was originally a processional partner dance performed with comical formality, and may have developed as a subtle mockery of the mannered dances of white slaveholders.
Calash (historical) Alternative form of calèche (“type of carriage with low wheels”) (now historical) A silk and whalebone hood worn by ladies to shade the face. quotations ▼
Calcareous (/kælˈkɛəriəs/) is an adjective meaning “mostly or partly composed of calcium carbonate”, in other words, containing lime or being chalky. The term is used in a wide variety of scientific disciplines
calque – loan translation
A calutron is a mass spectrometer originally designed and used for separating the isotopes of uranium. It was developed by Ernest Lawrence during the Manhattan Project and was based on his earlier invention, the cyclotron.
Calvary any experience that causes intense suffering. synonyms: martyrdom. see moresee less. type of: affliction. a cause of great suffering and distress. (Buchan, 1995 Heart’s Journey in Winter)
A camarilla is a group of courtiers or favourites who surround a king or ruler. Usually, they do not hold any office or have any official authority at the royal court but influence their ruler behind the scenes. Consequently, they also escape having to bear responsibility for the effects of their advice. The term derives from the Spanish word camarilla (diminutive of cámara), meaning “little chamber” or private cabinet of the king
Cambric : a fine thin white linen fabric
Camming – A spring-loaded camming device (also SLCD, cam or friend) is a piece of rock climbing or mountaineering protection equipment. It consists of two, three, or four cams mounted on a common axle or two adjacent axles, so that pulling on the axle forces the cams to spread farther apart. This is then attached to a sling and carabiner at the end of the stem. The SLCD is used by pulling on the “trigger” (a small handle) so the cams retract together, then inserting it into a crack or pocket in the rock and releasing the trigger to allow the cams to expand. A pull on the rope, such as that generated by a climber falling, will cause a properly placed SLCD to convert the pulling force along the stem of the unit into outwards pressure on the rock, generating massive amounts of friction and preventing the removal of the unit from the rock. Because of the large forces which are exerted on the rock when an SLCD is fallen on, it is very important that SLCDs are only placed in solid, strong rock.[1]
Camphor (tree) Camphor is a chemical that used to be made by distilling the bark and wood of the camphor tree. Today, camphor is usually made from turpentine oil. Camphor has a very distinct smell. It seems to stimulate nerves and help with symptoms such as pain and itching.
Cantle  : a segment cut off or out of something : part, portion. 2. : the upward projecting rear part of a saddle.
A capitonym is a word that changes its meaning (and sometimes pronunciation) when it is capitalized; the capitalization usually applies due to one form being a proper noun or eponym.[1] It is a portmanteau of the word capital with the suffix -onym. A capitonym is a form of homograph and – when the two forms are pronounced differently – is also a form of heteronym.
caponise castrate (a domestic cock). “the males were caponized”
captious tending to find fault or raise petty objections.	Guardian article
Carbolic 1. phenol, especially when used as a disinfectant. 2. disinfectant soap containing phenol.
A carillon (US: /ˈkɛrəlɒn/ KERR-ə-lon, UK: /kəˈrɪljən/ kə-RIL-yən) is a pitched percussion instrument that is played with a keyboard and consists of at least 23 bells. The bells are cast in bronze, hung in fixed suspension, and tuned in chromatic order so that they can be sounded harmoniously together
Carmine red or purplish-red pigment obtained from cochineal (q.v.), a red dyestuff extracted from the dried bodies of certain female scale insects native to tropical and subtropical America
The ancient carnyx was a wind instrument used by the Celts during the Iron Age, between c. 200 BCE and c. CE 200. It was a type of trumpet made of bronze with an elongated S shape, held so that the long straight central portion was vertical and the short mouthpiece end section and the much wider bell were horizontal in opposed directions. The bell was styled in the shape of the head of an open-mouthed boar or other animal. Sarah Moss (2018) Ghost Wall.
Carpaccio (UK: /kɑːrˈpætʃ(i)oʊ/, US: /-ˈpɑːtʃ-/, Italian: [karˈpattʃo]) is a dish of meat or fish[1] (such as beef, veal, venison, salmon or tuna), thinly sliced or pounded thin, and served raw, typically as an appetizer. It was invented in 1963 by Giuseppe Cipriani from Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy, and popularised during the second half of the twentieth century.[2] The beef was served with lemon, olive oil, and white truffle or Parmesan cheese. Later, the term was extended to dishes containing other raw meats or fish, thinly sliced and served with lemon or vinegar, olive oil, salt and ground pepper, and fruits such as mango or pineapple.
Hickory is a common name for trees composing the genus Carya, which includes around 18 species. … Five or six species are native to China, Indochina, and India …
A caryatid is a statue of a woman generally dressed in a long toga used to support an entablature in place of a column, a pilar or a pilaster. The Greek name “Karyatides” meant inhabitant of Karyae, a town in Laconia.
Cassia typically refers to cassia bark, the spice made from the bark of East Asian evergreen trees.
A cataphract was a form of armored heavy cavalryman that originated in Persia and was fielded in ancient warfare throughout Eurasia and Northern Africa.	A Private Eye cartoon from March 2023
Catenaccio is a defensive system built around man-marking and sweeping. Essentially, it involves dropping a central midfielder back into a more deep-lying defensive position, and using them as a sweeper who plays behind the rest of the back line.
catkin, elongated cluster of single-sex flowers bearing scaly bracts and usually lacking petals.
Celandine Lesser celandine is a small, low-growing perennial herb in the buttercup family. Leaves: glossy, dark-green and heart-shaped with long stalks. Flowers: shiny, yellow star-like flowers with eight to twelve petals.
Ceiba is a genus of trees in the family Malvaceae, native to tropical and subtropical areas of the Americas and tropical West Africa.	Philip Kerr If the dead rise not
cellon – kind of comb (possibly a brand name?)	Nevil Shute, Pastoral
The Cenacle (from the Latin cenaculum, “dining room”), also known as the Upper Room (from the Koine Greek anagaion and hyperōion, both meaning “upper room”), is a room in Mount Zion in Jerusalem, just outside the Old City walls, traditionally held to be the site of the Last Supper, the final meal that, in the Gospel accounts, Jesus held with the apostles.
Certosina is a decorative art technique of inlaying used widely in the Italian Renaissance period. Similar to marquetry, it uses small pieces of wood, bone, ivory, metal, or mother-of-pearl to create inlaid geometric patterns on a wood base.[1] The term comes from Carthusian monasteries (Certosa in Italian, Charterhouse in English),[2] probably the Certosa di Pavia, where the technique was used in ornamenting an altarpiece by the Embriachi workshop.
The cebiche, ceviche, sebiche or seviche (all valid and all included in the Dictionary of the Spanish language; each one is used in a different geographical area)[10][11][12](Spanish pronunciation: [seˈβitʃe]) is a dish consisting of fish or shellfish marinated in citrus and seasonings.	From this excellent Grauniad article.
Challah is a special bread of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, usually braided and typically eaten on ceremonial occasions such as Shabbat and major Jewish holidays
Chamfered (in carpentry) cut away (a right-angled edge or corner) to make a symmetrical sloping edge. “a neat chamfered edge”	Nothing to Lose by Lee Child
Chancel : the part of a church containing the altar and seats for the clergy and choir
chandelle /ʃanˈdɛl/ noun a steep climbing turn executed in an aircraft to gain height while changing the direction of flight.	The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield
A chantry is an ecclesiastical term that may have either of two related meanings:[1] a chantry service, a Christian liturgy of prayers for the dead, which historically was an obiit, or a chantry chapel, a building on private land, or an area in a parish church or cathedral reserved for the performance of the “chantry duties”. In the Medieval Era through to the Age of Enlightenment it was commonly believed such liturgies might help atone for misdeeds and assist the soul to obtain eternal peace
chapapote – noun. tar [noun] any of several kinds of thick, black, sticky material obtained from wood, coal etc and used eg in roadmaking.	Petroleum Review, December 1969
Chapiter the upper part of a column that supports the entablature
Discussing Joaquin Phoenix’s performance in Ridley Scott’s Napoleon, Michael Wood suggests that ‘we need perhaps to invent a word whose meaning is the exact opposite of charisma, a word that would conjure up a complete, terminal absence of glamour’ (LRB, 14 December 2023). We already have that word: ‘charisn’tma’, coined in the 1990s by Barry Cryer to describe the political performance of then prime minister, John Major. Charisn’tma has the interesting feature, for the cineaste, that it can be represented visually as well as semantically. In Spitting Image, Major’s puppet always appeared as (literally) grey, even though the programme was broadcast in colour.
charrette /ʃaˈrɛt/ nounNORTH AMERICAN 1. a public meeting or workshop devoted to a concerted effort to solve a problem or plan the design of something. 2. a period of intense work, typically undertaken in order to meet a deadline.
chasuble, liturgical vestment, the outermost garment worn by Roman Catholic priests and bishops at mass and by some Anglicans and Lutherans when they celebrate the Eucharist.	Ape and Essence (Huxley) p71
chem·​ur·​gy. ˈke(ˌ)mərjē sometimes keˈm- or kə̇ˈm- plural -es. : a branch of applied chemistry that deals with industrial utilization of organic raw materials especially from farm products (as in the use of soybean oil for paints and varnishes and of southern pine for paper pulp)
chert (countable and uncountable, plural cherts) (geology, uncountable) Massive, usually dull-colored and opaque, quartzite, hornstone, impure chalcedony, or other flint-like mineral. (countable) A flint-like tool made from chert.
Goat cheese, goat’s cheese or chèvre (/ˈʃɛvrə/ or /ˈʃɛv/; from the French fromage de chèvre, lit. ’goat cheese’)[1] is cheese made from goat’s milk. Goats were among the first animals to be domesticated for producing food.[2] Goat cheese is made around the world with a variety of recipes, giving many different styles of cheeses, from fresh and soft to aged and hard]
Chicle (/ˈtʃɪkəl/) is a natural gum traditionally used in making chewing gum and other products.[1] It is collected from several species of Mesoamerican trees in the genus Manilkara, including M. zapota, M. chicle, M. staminodella, and M. bidentata
Chickweed  Stellaria media, chickweed, is an annual flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is native to Eurasia and naturalized throughout the world, where it is a weed of waste ground, farmland and gardens. It is sometimes grown as a salad crop or for poultry consumption.	(Blott on the Landscape)
A chignon (UK: /ˈʃiːnjɒ̃/, US: /ˈʃiːnjɒn/, French: [ʃiɲɔ̃]), from the French chignon meaning a bun, is a hairstyle characterized by wrapped hair on the back of the head. In the United States and United Kingdom, it is often used as an abbreviation of the French phrase chignon du cou, signifying a low bun worn at the nape of the neck.	Fieldwork by Maureen Moore
Chiptune (also known as chip music, 8-bit music, or 16-bit music) is a style of synthesized electronic music made using the programmable sound generator (PSG) sound chips or synthesizers in vintage arcade machines, computers and video game consoles.
Chitterlings  the intestines of hogs especially when prepared as food
A submission from Texas, U.S. says the name Chonte means “Passerine bird of the river valleys of the Sierra Madre” and is of Spanish origin. Search for more …
Chrysalism The amniotic tranquility of being indoors during a thunderstorm.
The chupacabra or chupacabras (Spanish pronunciation: [tʃupaˈkaβɾas], literally ‘goat-sucker’; from Spanish: chupa, ‘sucks’, and cabras, ‘goats’) is a legendary creature in the folklore of parts of the Americas. The name comes from the animal’s reported vampirism—the chupacabra is said to attack and drink the blood of livestock, including goats.
Churidars, also churidar pyjamas, are tightly fitting trousers worn by both men and women in the Indian subcontinent.[1] Churidars are a variant of the common shalwar pants. Shalwars are cut wide at the top and narrow at the ankle. Churidars narrow more quickly so that contours of the legs are revealed. They are usually cut on the bias, making them naturally stretchy, which is important when pants are closefitting. They are also longer than the leg and sometimes finish with a tightly fitting buttoned cuff at the ankle.
Cilantro is an herb with a fragrant, citrusy flavor. Many people enjoy its refreshing taste and aroma, but others can’t stand it.
A circlet is a piece of headwear that is similar to a diadem or a corolla. The word ‘circlet’ is also used to refer to the base of a crown or a coronet, with or without a cap.
Cist 1. ARCHAEOLOGY an ancient coffin or burial chamber made from stone or a hollowed tree. a box used in ancient Greece for sacred utensils.	Sarah Moss (2018) Ghost Wall.
Hailes or clacken is a Scottish ball game which dates to the 18th century and achieved its widest popularity in the nineteenth. It has now virtually died out, replaced by football, except at The Edinburgh Academy, where an exhibition match is played annually.
Clafoutis (French pronunciation: [klafuti]; Occitan: clafotís [klafuˈtis] or [kʎafuˈtiː]), sometimes spelled clafouti in Anglophone countries, is a French dish of fruit, traditionally unpitted black cherries, arranged in a buttered dish, covered with a thick but pourable batter, then baked to create a crustless tart. The clafoutis is traditionally dusted with powdered sugar and served lukewarm, sometimes with cream, as a dessert. It can also be served as a breakfast or brunch main or side.
Clanging (or clang associations) is a symptom of mental disorders, primarily found in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.[1] This symptom is also referred to as association chaining, and sometimes, glossomania.
Clart  : to daub or smear especially with mud or dirt.	Sarah Moss (2018) Ghost Wall.
The word claustrum means ‘hidden away’, and indeed, the claustrum is a thin, irregular sheet of grey matter, one sheet on each side of the head, concealed between the inner surface of the neocortex.
Cleromancy is a form of sortition (casting of lots) in which an outcome is determined by means that normally would be considered random, such as the rolling of dice (astragalomancy), but that are sometimes believed to reveal the will of a deity.
Clint – the relatively flat part of a limestone pavement between the grikes
Cloche bell
Chrysobalanus icaco, the cocoplum, paradise plum, abajeru or icaco, is a low shrub or bushy tree found near sea beaches and inland throughout tropical Africa, tropical Americas and the Caribbean, and in southern Florida and the Bahamas.[2] An evergreen, it is also found as an exotic species on other tropical islands, where it has become a problematic invasive.[3]
Cocottes (or coquettes) were high class prostitutes (courtesans) in France during the Second Empire and the Belle Époque.[
Coir also called coconut fibre, is a natural fibre extracted from the outer husk of coconut and used in products such as floor mats, doormats, brushes
Colchicum- Colchicum (/ˈkɒltʃɪkəm/ KOL-chik-əm or /ˈkɒlkɪkəm/ KOL-kik-əm)[2] is a genus of perennial flowering plants containing around 160 species which grow from bulb-like corms. It is a member of the botanical family Colchicaceae, and is native to West Asia, Europe, parts of the Mediterranean coast, down the East African coast to South Africa and the Western Cape. In this genus, the ovary of the flower is underground. As a consequence, the styles are extremely long in proportion, often more than 10 cm (4 in). All species in the genus are toxic
Coleopterae Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases
A coloboma describes conditions where normal tissue in or around the eye is missing at birth.
Colza rapeseed
Commissaires who would elbow their neighbous and say “This is the good part” or a senior police officer in France. (in France) an official at a cycle race or other sporting event.
congé an unceremonious dismissal or rejection of someone. “she gives him his congé, and at the same time avows her real love for him”
congeriesnoun a disorderly collection; a jumble. “a congeries of European states”
The term “connectome” is commonly taken to describe a complete map of neural connections in a nervous system of a given species.
consistory noun (in the Roman Catholic Church) the council of cardinals, with or without the Pope. (in the Church of England) a court presided over by a bishop, for the administration of ecclesiastical law in a diocese. noun: consistory court; plural noun: consistory courts
conspirituality – conspiracy theories and New-Age spirituality
conventicle /kənˈvɛntɪkl/ nounHISTORICAL a secret or unlawful religious meeting, typically of nonconformists.
copacetic – in excellent order.
Copaganda (a portmanteau of cop and propaganda) is propaganda efforts to shape public opinion about police or counter criticism of police and anti-police sentiment.
Copal is tree resin, particularly the aromatic resins from the copal tree Protium copal (Burseraceae) used by the cultures of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica
copium (uncountable) (Internet slang, originally 4chan) A metaphorical opiate taken in order to cope with loss or disillusionment, often leading to one becoming detached from reality and in denial of their situation.
Shell cordovan, a type of leather Cordovan (color), a shade of red-brown Cordovan (bee), a breed of the Western honey bee
In architecture, a corbel is a structural piece of stone, wood or metal jutting from a wall to carry a superincumbent weight, a type of bracket. A corbel is a solid piece of material in the wall, whereas a console is a piece applied to the structure.
Cornelian – a semi-precious stone consisting of a dull red or reddish-white variety of chalcedony (quartz).	Margaret Drabble, The Icea Age
Corniche – a road on the side of a cliff or mountain, with the ground rising on one side and falling away on the other.	LRB blog – “When we met in my hotel room, he would say nothing off his talking points; for more frank conversations, we met elsewhere in the city or walked along the corniche.”
A cortado is a beverage consisting of espresso mixed with a roughly equal amount of warm milk to reduce the acidity,[1][2] although the exact ratios have considerable regional variation.[3] The milk in a cortado is steamed, but not frothy and “texturized” as in many Italian coffee drinks.[4] The cortado comes from Spain, most likely Madrid, where it is commonly served.[5] The word cortado is the past participle of the Spanish verb cortar (to cut), in the sense of “dilute”, and can refer variously to either coffee or espresso drinks throughout Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries.
corybantic/ˌkɒrɪˈbantɪk/ adjective wild; frenzied. “rock and roll’s corybantic gyrations”	Ape and Essence (Huxley) p.98
Caille and his colleagues frame forgotten solar technologies as “cosmograms”: objects which describe the world as it could have been, and could yet become. # Our model and the solar motor are much more than museum objects: they are “cosmograms.” That is to say, they are objects which propose a reunification of the world, or more exactly a re-description of the world as it could be, by evoking many relations which they “contain,” but which far exceed them in space and time [https://www.energyhumanities.ca/news/feature-solar-energy-at-the-museum-of-the-future] See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmogram
Cotoneaster /kəˈtoʊniːˈæstər/[1] is a genus of flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, native to the Palaearctic region (temperate Asia, Europe, north Africa), with a strong concentration of diversity in the genus in the mountains of southwestern China and the Himalayas
Coulisses – French – behind the scenes
One of the original meanings of the word culture is the tending of natural (The Dyke and the Dybbuk, p 188), which is to say agriculture, and a cognate word, coulter, means the blade of a plough.
Coxcomb ARCHAIC a vain and conceited man; a dandy.
Coypu – The nutria (Myocastor coypus), also known as the coypu,[1][2] is a large, herbivorous,[3] semiaquatic rodent. Classified for a long time as the only member of the family Myocastoridae,[4] Myocastor is now included within Echimyidae, the family of the spiny rats.[5][6][7] The nutria lives in burrows alongside stretches of water and feeds on river plant stems.[8] Originally native to subtropical and temperate South America, it has since been introduced to North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, primarily by fur farmers
The craquelure on a painting is the network, or pattern, of cracks that develops across the surface as the paint layers age and shrink. Easel paintings in most types of paint, particularly egg tempera and oil, develop cracks which join up into a complex, extensive network. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/may/31/asunder-chloe-aridjis-review
According to the DVD commentary for The Simpsons, the showrunners asked the writers to come up with two nonce words that sounded like words that could be in actual use. Writer David X. Cohen came up with cromulent as one of those words. It means “acceptable” or “fine.
Croton is an extensive plant genus in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. The plants of this genus were described and introduced to Europeans by Georg Eberhard Rumphius. The common names for this genus are rushfoil and croton, but the latter also refers to Codiaeum variegatum. The generic name comes from the Greek κρότος (krótos), which means “tick” and refers to the shape of the seeds of certain species	Thea Astley Drylands
Cruse – an earthenware pot or jar.
Cryptomnesia – the phenomenon of not recognizing the return of an old memory as a product of memory, but instead regarding it as a new or original thought or idea: Cryptomnesia has misled some writers to embark on new works which are actually unconscious plagiarism or even self-plagiarism	Peter Robinson
Curf – A limestone containing cherts
cuirass /kwɪˈras/ noun 1. HISTORICAL a piece of armour consisting of breastplate and backplate fastened together. 2. MEDICINE an artificial ventilator which encloses the body, leaving the limbs free, and forces air in and out of the lungs by changes in pressure.
A curvimeter  is an instrument for measuring the lengths of arbitrary curved lines.
Cynodonts (clade Cynodontia lit. ’dog-teeth’) are eutheriodont therapsids that first appeared in the Late Permian (approximately 260 mya), and extensively diversified after the Permian–Triassic extinction event. Mammals are cynodonts, as are their extinct ancestors and close relatives (Mammaliaformes), having evolved from advanced probainognathian cynodonts during the Late Triassic. Non-mammalian cynodonts occupied a variety of ecological niches, both as carnivores and as herbivores. Following the emergence of mammals, most other cynodont lines went extinct, with the last known non-mammaliaform cynodont group, the Tritylodontidae, having its youngest records in the Early Cretaceous.
Cyberchondria refers to an abnormal behavioral pattern in which excessive or repeated online searches for health-related information are distressing or anxiety-provoking.
Cynophobia is the overwhelming fear of dogs. People with this anxiety disorder feel intense fear and anxiety when they think about, see or encounter a dog. In severe cases, this phobia can cause people to avoid places where dogs might be.
Cynosure a person or thing that is the centre of attention or admiration.
Dabke, literally meaning “to stomp the feet” in Arabic, is a popular folklore line dance native to Palestine, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, widely performed on joyous occasions like weddings.
Dado  In architecture, the dado is the lower part of a wall, below the dado rail and above the skirting board. The word is borrowed from Italian meaning “dice
Daphnia is a genus of small planktonic crustaceans, 0.2–6.0 mm (0.01–0.24 in) in length. Daphnia are members of the order Anomopoda, and are one of the several small aquatic crustaceans commonly called water fleas because their saltatory swimming style resembles the movements of fleas.
A Daruma doll (Japanese: 達磨, Hepburn: daruma) is a hollow, round, Japanese traditional doll modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen tradition of Buddhism. These dolls, though typically red and depicting the Indian monk, Bodhidharma, vary greatly in color and design depending on region and artist. Though considered a toy by some, Daruma has a design that is rich in symbolism and is regarded more as a talisman of good luck to the Japanese. Daruma dolls are seen as a symbol of perseverance and good luck, making them a popular gift of encouragement.
Davka – (Hebrew) Just to annoy, just to be contrary	BBC cricket commentary
deja woo. “When you investigate pseudoscience for long enough, you start to see the same kind of ideas resurface in slightly different ways, slightly different packaging. I’d like to call this phenomenon deja woo.” @MrMMarsh
démarche noun a political step or initiative.
Demurrage nounLAW a charge payable to the owner of a chartered ship on failure to load or discharge the ship within the time agreed.
The dentine at the root of each of our teeth is coated in a calcified layer of cementum that is deposited incrementally, in layers whose thickness responds to stressors. Cementum strata can be read like tree rings. In death, our tooth bacteria perish with us, and whatever is left of a person’s teeth remains to tell the story of their life and health, including what they ate, the pain they felt, and whether or not they were cared for.
A derecho (pronounced similar to “deh-REY-cho” in English, or pronounced phonetically as ” “) is a widespread, long-lived wind storm. Derechos are associated with bands of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms variously known as bow echoes, squall lines, or quasi-linear convective systems.
Detent /dɪˈtɛnt/ noun a catch in a machine which prevents motion until released. “a system of detents is used to ensure that gears are held in whatever position is selected” a catch that regulates striking in a clock.	The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield
‘Diagonalism,’ as Klein says, is the word William Callison and Quinn Slobodian have used to characterise these new alliances, ‘born in part from transformations in technology and communication’ and ‘generally arcing towards far-right beliefs’, while also contesting ‘conventional monikers of left and right’. Diagonalists, in this typology, mostly self-identify as middle-class and are disproportionately self-employed.	LRB
dimity – a hard-wearing cotton fabric woven with stripes or checks.	The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
“Diolch” – meaning, thank you. Pronounced: ‘Dee-ol-ch’
A diopter is a unit of measurement that represents the optical strength of a lens. The optical power is the reciprocal, or inverse, of the focal length
A dirndl is a feminine dress which originated in German-speaking areas of the Alps. It is traditionally worn by women and girls in Austria, … (Buchan, 1995:165)
Distrait adjective  distracted or absent-minded.
Diyah, in Islām, the traditional compensation due for the shedding of blood.
Doctoganda – propaganda about the benevolence and competence of doctors and the medical establishment (compare with copaganda)
domicide – domicide (plural domicides) The deliberate destruction of a home or homes.
dormiveglia – state of between being awake and asleep at the same time; light sleep; halfsleep
A dowel is a cylindrical rod, usually made of wood, plastic, or metal. In its original manufactured form, a dowel is called a dowel rod. Dowel rods are often cut into short lengths called dowel pins.
Draco is the Greco-Latin word for serpent, or dragon.
A drogue (also known as a storm drogue) is a device trailed behind a boat on a long line attached to the stern. A drogue is used to slow the boat down in a storm and to prevent the hull from becoming side-on to the waves.	Interwebz 16 July, while googling for FT crossword answers
Drupelet Each of those lumpy segments that cover the surface of a raspberry or aa blackberry.
Drumlin – , oval or elongated hill believed to have been formed by the streamlined movement of glacial ice sheets across rock debris, or till. The name is derived from the Gaelic word druim (“rounded hill,” or “mound”) and first appeared in 1833	Peter Robinson short story
Dukkha refers to the ‘suffering’ or ‘unsatisfactoriness’ of life. A person might temporarily fulfil their desires but suffering – whether physical, emotional or mental – cannot be avoided
Dulcimer The word dulcimer originally referred to a trapezoidal zither similar to a psaltery whose many strings are struck by handheld “hammers”.[1] Variants of this instrument are found in many cultures, including:
In Jewish mythology, a dybbuk (/ˈdɪbək/; Yiddish: דיבוק, from the Hebrew verb דָּבַק‎ dāḇaq meaning ‘adhere’ or ‘cling’) is a malicious possessing spirit believed to be the dislocated soul of a dead person.[1] It supposedly leaves the host body once it has accomplished its goal, sometimes after being exorcised.
È pericoloso sporgersi It’s dangerous to lean out
Easement /ˈiːzm(ə)nt noun 1. LAW a right to cross or otherwise use someone else’s land for a specified purpose. 2. LITERARY the state or feeling of comfort or peace. “time brings easement”
eau de Nil /əʊ də ˈniːl/ Noun a pale greenish colour.	Last of the Country House Murders  p.68)
An ecotone is a transition area between two biological communities,[1] where two communities meet and integrate.[2] It may be narrow or wide, and it may be local (the zone between a field and forest) or regional (the transition between forest and grassland ecosystems).[3] An ecotone may appear on the ground as a gradual blending of the two communities across a broad area, or it may manifest itself as a sharp boundary line.
Ecphonesis (Greek: ἐκφώνησις) is an emotional, exclamatory phrase (exclamation) used in poetry, drama, or song. It is a rhetorical device that originated in ancient literature. A Latin example is “O tempora! O mores!” (“Oh, the times! Oh, the morals!”).
Ecru comes from the French word écru for the color of unbleached linen, and the word means “raw, unbleached” in French.	Bones of Coral by James W. Hall, p.31
edaphic /ɪˈdafɪk/ adjective ECOLOGY of, produced by, or influenced by the soil.
One of most important but little known concepts of Western occultism is that of the egregore, an autonomous psychic entity created by a collective group mind.	This is the ultimate realisation of the “current thing” and the “software update”—a manmade “egregore” that assumes autonomous power via sheer social belief and the contagious psychic commitment of its adherents (source)
Ellipsism A sadness that you’ll never be able to know how history will turn out.
emersion /ɪˈməːʃ(ə)n,iːˈməːʃ(ə)n/ noun 1. the process of emerging from water after being submerged. “some coral species can survive emersion for up to three hours” 2. ASTRONOMY the reappearance of a celestial body after its eclipse or occultation.
In mountaineering and climbing, enchainment (an anglicisation of the French word enchaînement, meaning “linking”) is climbing two or more mountains or climbing routes on a mountain in one outing (often over the course of a day or a series of days).
Énouement The bittersweetness of having arrived in the future, seeing how things turn out, but not being able to tell your past self.
Ensiform /ˈɛnsɪfɔːm/ adjectiveBOTANY shaped like a sword blade; long and narrow with sharp edges and a pointed tip.	(Gilbert, M. 1951. Death has Deep Roots, p. 174)
Excelsior Wood wool, known primarily as excelsior in North America, is a product made of wood slivers cut from logs. It is mainly used in packaging, for cooling pads in home evaporative cooling systems known as swamp coolers, for erosion control mats, and as a raw material for the production of other products such as bonded wood wool boards. In the past it was used as stuffing, or padding, in upholstery,[1][2] or to fill stuffed toys. It is also sometimes used by taxidermists to construct the armatures of taxidermy mounts.
Eidolon In ancient Greek literature, an eidolon (/aɪˈdoʊlɒn/; Ancient Greek: εἴδωλον ‘image, idol, double, apparition, phantom, ghost’; plural: eidola or eidolons) is a spirit-image of a living or dead person; a shade or phantom look-alike of the human form.
Elytra are evolutionarily modified, beetle-unique forewings located on the second thoracic segment. These wings are highly sclerotized, and act as a hardened shield covering the dorsal surface of the beetle.
Encaustic is an ancient painting method in which wax and pigment are fused onto a surface with heat.
endorheic (not comparable) (hydrology) Of a basin or lake: having no outflow to an external body of water such as a river or ocean, and only losing water through evaporation or seepage into the ground.	London Review of Books
The opposite of akrasia is enkrateia, or the virtue of having self-control. The person with self-control still wants a cigarette or to skip the gym, but their judgment is not as corruptible. https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/2024/mar/21/why-we-do-things-bad-for-us-impulse-habits-akrasia
Énouement The bittersweetness of having arrived in the future, seeing how things turn out, but not being able to tell your past self.
enshittocene – an era defined by the spread of degradation from the web to the real world, to our jobs, privacy, politics and beyond. Cory Doctorow, 2024. Year One. Financial Times Magazine, February 10, pp.28-35)
Entablature the upper part of a classical building supported by columns or a colonnade, comprising the architrave, frieze, and cornice.
Enteritis is inflammation of your small intestine. The most common causes are viral and bacterial infections. Enteritis can also include your stomach (gastroenteritis) or your large intestine (enterocolitis). Enteritis caused by infection is often gastroenteritis. Common examples are food poisoning and the stomach flu.
Enthalpy /ˈɛnθəlpi/ (listen), a property of a thermodynamic system, is the sum of the system’s internal energy and the product of its pressure and volume.[1] It is a state function used in many measurements in chemical, biological, and physical systems at a constant pressure, which is conveniently provided by the large ambient atmosphere.
Enthesis – Bones and muscles are held together with tissues called tendons and ligaments, which allow them to work together and help all types of movement. The site where a tendon or ligament inserts into a bone is called an enthesis.
Erethism Erethism or erethism mercurialis is a neurological disorder which affects the whole central nervous system, as well as a symptom complex derived from mercury poisoning. This is also sometimes known as the mad hatter disease.
Estafette – military courier	FT crossword 2023 02 04
Exanthema – skin eruption	FT crossword 2023 07 01
excrementalities https://www.wiley-vch.de/en?option=com_eshop&view=product&isbn=978-1-5095-5741-7
Exergy is a thermodynamic concept, used for many years within engineering analyses of chemical and mechanical processes and systems. Officially, exergy is defined as: The maximum useful work which can be extracted from a system as it reversibly comes into equilibrium with its environment.
Exoteric refers to knowledge that is outside and independent from a person’s experience and can be fully appreciated or understood by anyone (related to common sense), in contrast to esoteric knowledge (understood or appreciated by few). The word is derived from the comparative form of Ancient Greek ἔξω eksô; “from, out of, outside”.
Exulansis The tendency to give up trying to talk about an experience because people are unable to relate to it.
A fabliau (French pronunciation: ​[fabljo]; plural fabliaux) is a comic, often anonymous tale written by jongleurs in northeast France between c. 1150 and 1400. They are generally characterized by sexual and scatological obscenity, and by a set of contrary attitudes—contrary to the church and to the nobility.[1] Several of them were reworked by Giovanni Boccaccio for the Decameron and by Geoffrey Chaucer for his Canterbury Tales. Some 150 French fabliaux are extant, the number depending on how narrowly fabliau is defined.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabliau
facula /ˈfakjʊlə/ noun a bright region on the surface of the sun, linked to the subsequent appearance of sunspots in the same area.
Faience is the term for tin-glazed earthenware made in France from the late sixteenth century until the end of the eighteenth century. The pieces were either thrown on a potter’s wheel and formed in a mold, or, less frequently, shaped by hand.	Philip Kerr If the Dead Rise Not
Falchion refers to a type of curved sword that was used in Europe from about 1200. This is one of the few to survive from the late fifteenth century. Its long narrow blade and interlaced decoration on the hilt suggest the Middle Eastern influence that was an important feature in Venetian and Spanish art.
Falciform  having the shape of a scythe or sickle.
Fatsia is a small genus of three species of evergreen shrubs in the family Araliaceae native to southern Japan and Taiwan. They typically have stout, sparsely branched stems bearing spirally-arranged, large leathery, palmately lobed leaves 20–50 cm in width, on a petiole up to 50 cm long, and small creamy-white flowers in dense terminal compound umbels in late autumn or early winter, followed by small black fruit.	Thea Astley Drylands
A fauxpology is a false apology that you say or write in order to tell someone that you are sorry but you do not really mean it. Word origin: The blend of faux and apology e.g. Do not apologise when you do not really mean it. It is a fauxpology.
Fauxletarian – Falsely claiming to be of a lower socio-economic or working class in order to appear humble, hide true wealth, dodge responsibility, or deflect criticism	Guy Rundle on Jim Steinman
‘faxlore’ – those joke faxes people used to send
A faying surface is one of the surfaces that are in contact at a joint.[1][2] Faying surfaces may be connected to each other by bolts or rivets, adhesives, welding, or soldering. An example would be steel pipe flanges, in which the connected ends of the flanges would be faying surfaces.
Feen – A person who is highly addicted to a substance and desperate to get high
Fermata is the Italian name for the sign (𝄐), which in English is commonly called a Pause, and signifies that the note over which it is placed should be held on beyond its natural duration. It is sometimes put over a bar or double bar, in which case it intimates a short interval of silence.	Not a Novel Jenny Erpenbeck, p.24
Festuca (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae). They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of 10–200 cm (4–79 in) and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every continent except Antarctica	(Blott on the Landscape)
Feuilleton a part of a newspaper or magazine devoted to fiction, criticism, or light literature.	(Buchan, 1995 Heart’s Journey in Winter)
Fichu a small triangular shawl, worn round a woman’s shoulders and neck. (Jacky Gillott, War Baby, p. 103
Filbert 1. : either of two European hazels. 2. : the sweet thick-shelled nut of a filbert. also : hazelnut.
Firn noun crystalline or granular snow, especially on the upper part of a glacier, where it has not yet been compressed into ice.	31 July 2023
fitchew /ˈfɪtʃuː/ noun archaic term for polecat.	Aldous Huxley Ape and and Essence p 76
Flambeau – a flaming torch
Flense/flensing Flensing knives are used by the Inuit to remove skins from harvested animals
A fly-whisk (or fly-swish)[1] is a tool that is used to swat flies. A similar device is used as a hand fan in hot tropical climates, sometimes as part of regalia, and is called a chowrie, chāmara, or prakirnaka in South Asia and Tibet.
A fogou or fougou (pronounced “foo-goo”) is an underground, dry-stone structure found on Iron Age or Romano-British-defended settlement sites in Cornwall.	5 August 2023
Forfend – avert or prevent (something evil or unpleasant).
Formication, also known as paresthesias. Formication is best described as ants crawling on the skin.
Friendshoring or allyshoring meaning the act of manufacturing and sourcing from countries that are geopolitical allies which makes it a synonym for trade bloc. Wikipedia
Fulgurate 1. MEDICINE destroy (small growths or areas of tissue) using diathermy. “a high-frequency electric current is applied to fulgurate the biological tissue” 2.LITERARY flash like lightning. “the cut-glass chandeliers fulgurated”
In sewing and dressmaking, a ruffle, frill, or furbelow is a strip of fabric, lace or ribbon tightly gathered or pleated on one edge and applied to a garment, bedding, or other textile as a form of trimming. Ruffles can be made from a single layer of fabric or a doubled layer
Gagaku (雅楽, lit. “elegant music”)[1] is a type of Japanese classical music that was historically used for imperial court music and dances. Gagaku was developed as court music of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, and its near-current form was established in the Heian period (794–1185) around the 10th century.[2][3] Today, it is performed by the Board of Ceremonies in the Tokyo Imperial Palace. Gagaku consists of three primary repertoires:[2] Native Shinto religious music and imperial songs and dance, called Kuniburi no utamai (国風歌舞) Vocal music based on native folk poetry, called Utaimono (謡物) Songs and dance based on foreign-style music A Chinese, Vietnamese and Indian form (specifically Tang dynasty), called Tōgaku (唐楽) A Korean and Manchurian form, called komagaku (高麗楽)
A garniture is a number or collection of any matching, but usually not identical, decorative objects intended to be displayed together.[1] Frequently made of metal, ormolu, often with gilded wood stands, porcelain (both European and Asian), garnitures became popular during the latter half of the 17th century and remained in vogue throughout the 19th century. A very common placement is on the mantelpiece over a fireplace, but garnitures were very often placed on various pieces of furniture, and on ledges or niches around the walls of a room, especially over doors or above fireplaces. Garnitures may contain pieces made together with a view to being used as a set, or may be “assembled” by the decorator from pieces of different origin.	Utz, p. 98
gasconade /ˌɡaskəˈneɪd/ nounLITERARY extravagant boasting.
Gasolier a chandelier with gas burners rather than light bulbs or candles.
gemütlich /ɡəˈmuːtlɪx,German ɡəˈmyːtlɪç/ adjective pleasant and cheerful. “I had the feeling that my entrance had spoiled the gemütlich atmosphere”
A geode (/ˈdʒiː.oʊd/; from Ancient Greek γεώδης (geṓdēs) ‘earthlike’) is a geological secondary formation within sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Geodes are hollow, vaguely spherical rocks, in which masses of mineral matter (which may include crystals) are secluded.
Geodesy is the science of accurately measuring and understanding three fundamental properties of the Earth: its geometric shape, its orientation in space, and its gravity field— as well as the changes of these properties with time.
Geomancy translates literally to “earth divination,” and the term is used for methods of divination that interpret geographic features, markings on the ground, or the patterns formed by soil, rocks, or sand. Geomancy tool Geomantic instrument, Egypt or Syria, 1241–42 CE, by Muhammad ibn Khutlukh al Mawsuli.
geste. / (dʒɛst) / nounarchaic. a notable deed or exploit. a tale of adventure or romance, esp in verse: See also chanson de geste.	(Gilbert, M. 1951. Death has Deep Roots, p. 14)
gibbous /ˈɡɪbəs/ adjective (of the moon) having the illuminated part greater than a semicircle and less than a circle.	The Big Fix by Roger L Simon
Gilgul (also Gilgul neshamot or Gilgulei HaNeshamot; Heb. גלגול הנשמות‎, Plural: גלגולים‎ Gilgulim) is a concept of reincarnation or “transmigration of souls“[1] in Kabbalistic esoteric mysticism. In Hebrew, the word gilgul means “cycle” or “wheel” and neshamot is the plural for “souls.	(The Dyke and the Dybbuk)
A gimbal is a pivoted support that permits rotation of an object about an axis. A set of three gimbals, one mounted on the other with orthogonal pivot axes, may be used to allow an object mounted on the innermost gimbal to remain independent of the rotation of its support (e.g. vertical in the first animation). For example, on a ship, the gyroscopes, shipboard compasses, stoves, and even drink holders typically use gimbals to keep them upright with respect to the horizon despite the ship’s pitching and rolling.
Girlitude was Tennant’s term for the woman’s retreat into marriage: “the dependence, the longed-for protection and the self-reproach of a species which can now only be alluded to self-consciously and with scorn”. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jan/31/emma-tennant-obituary
glabella, Gap between your eyebrows from the Latin term glabellus, meaning hairless, as it is usually a smooth, bald piece of skin.
Godhead (page 170) Divinity, the quality of being God Conceptions of God Godhead in Judaism, the unknowable aspect of God, which lies beyond his actions or emanations Godhead in Christianity, the substantial essence or nature of the Christian God
Gonif a disreputable or dishonest person (often used as a general term of abuse).
Gorn – Extreme, sadistic, over-the-top bloody violence. A portmanteau of “gore” and “porn”. The term can refer to just an extremely graphic scene of bloodshed, or the entire sub-genre of torture films in the spirit of Saw. Gorn shows gore and blood, not to frighten	TV Tropes
Gornisht mit Gornisht” – A whole lot of nothing.	(The Dyke and the Dybbuk)
Gosse  young person (colloq.)	(Gilbert, M. 1951. Death has Deep Roots, p. 72)
graticule – a network of lines representing meridians and parallels, on which a map or plan can be represented	Nevil Shute, Pastoral
Greaves – A greave (from the Old French greve “shin, shin armour”) or jambeau is a piece of armour that protects the leg.	Ursula Le Guin – Orsinian Tales
A greenium is the yield discount of a green bond compared to a similar non-green bond.
Greensward grass-covered ground. “city workers lolling on the greensward”	(source – Laing, O. 2018. Crudo p.127)
Grikes (or grykes) – A deep cleft formed in limestone surfaces due to water erosion; providing a unique habitat for plants	Margaret Drabble “The Ice Age”
grimoire commonly serves as an alternative name for a spell book or tome of magical knowledge in fantasy fiction and role-playing games.
A griot (ɡriːoʊ/; French: [ɡʁi.o]; Manding: jali or jeli (in N’Ko: ߖߋߟߌ,[1] djeli or djéli in French spelling); Serer: kevel or kewel / okawul; Wolof: gewel) is a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, and/or musician. The griot is a repository of oral tradition and is often seen as a leader due to their position as an advisor to members of the royal family. As a result of the former of these two functions, they are sometimes called bards. They also act as mediators in disputes.
The guayabera (/ɡwaɪ.əˈbɛrə/), also known as camisa de Yucatán (Yucatán shirt), is a men’s summer shirt, worn outside the trousers, distinguished by two vertical rows of closely sewn pleats running the length of the front and back of the shirt	Michael Connelly, Desert Star
Guerdon noun a reward or recompense. verb give a reward to (someone). “there might come a time in which he should guerdon them”	Roy Scranton in 2010 piece on narrative
Gusl mayyit According to Islamic tradition, the Ghusl is a form of ablution, or bath, which involves cleansing a body from impurities. There are different types of Ghusl, such as after childbirth and menstruation. The one performed on a deceased Muslim is called Ghusl Mayyit.
A gynoid, or fembot, is a feminine humanoid robot. Gynoids appear widely in science fiction film and art. As more realistic humanoid robot design becomes technologically possible, they are also emerging in real-life robot design.
A haboob is a type of intense dust storm carried on an atmospheric gravity current, also known as a weather front.
Hadal /ˈheɪdəl/ Adjective relating to the zone of the sea greater than 6000 m in depth (chiefly oceanic trenches).
There is a species of fish known as the hagfish. It’s not a nice name really, but I suspect that the fish doesn’t much care about names. Nor are they particularly attractive to humans, though, again, I’m not sure the hagfish could give a hoot. How hagfish feel about each other is a matter of supposition. One must accept the possibility of attraction between them. After all, there are hagfish. However, what really sets hagfish aside from the other horrors of the deep is their defensive reaction. When provoked, the hagfish exudes a substance that rapidly expands generating huge volumes of fibrous mucus. Anything taking an experimental nip finds itself jammed to the gills with a choking gobful of slime. After that, most predators lose interest or pretend they’d mistaken the hagfish for an old friend. (source)
Hahaganda is a tactic in which disinformation agents use memes, political comedy from state-run outlets, or speeches to make light of serious matters, attack others, minimize violence or dehumanize, and deflect blame. This approach provides an easy defense: If challenged, the disinformation agents can say, “Can’t you take a joke?” often followed by accusations of being too politically correct.	The Conversation
A halberd (also called halbard, halbert or Swiss voulge) is a two-handed polearm that came to prominent use from the 13th to 16th centuries. The halberd consists of an axe blade topped with a spike mounted on a long shaft. It can have a hook or thorn on the back side of the axe blade for grappling mounted combatants.[2] The halberd was usually 1.5 to 1.8 metres (5 to 6 feet) long.[3]
Halizah (or chalitzah; Hebrew: חליצה) is, under the biblical system of levirate marriage known as yibbum, the process by which a childless widow and a brother of her deceased husband may avoid the duty to marry.
Haphtarah. / (hɑːfˈtəʊrə, Hebrew haftaˈraː) / nounplural -taroth (-ˈtəʊrəʊt, Hebrew -taˈroːt) Judaism a short reading from the Prophets which follows the reading from the Torah on Sabbaths and festivals, and relates either to the theme of the Torah reading or to the observances of the day:
Campanula rotundifolia, the harebell, Scottish bluebell, or bluebell of Scotland, is a species of flowering plant in the bellflower family Campanulaceae.[2] This herbaceous perennial is found throughout the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. In Scotland, it is often known simply as bluebell. It is the floral emblem of Sweden where it is known as small bluebell.[3] It produces its violet-blue, bell-shaped flowers in late summer and autumn.	Sarah Moss (2018) Ghost Wall.
In ancient Italic people: Religion and mythology. …important form of divination was haruspicy, or hepatoscopy—the study of the details of the viscera, especially the livers, of sacrificial animals.
hassock /ˈhasək/ noun 1. a cushion for kneeling on in church, while at prayer. “he collected the prayer books and straightened the hassocks” 2. a firm clump of grass or matted vegetation in marshy or boggy ground.
Hauberk – a piece of armour originally covering only the neck and shoulders but later consisting of a full-length coat of mail or military tunic. or “A hauberk or byrnie is a shirt of mail. The term is usually used to describe a shirt reaching at least to mid-thigh and including sleeves.”	Ursula Le Guin – Orsinian Tales
Headcanon is a word used in film/television/comics/etc. fandom that refers to something a fan imagines about the characters (such as a scenario or relationship) but that doesn’t appear on screen/on the page
The dry conditions are leading to “heatflation” whereby food prices rise as high temperatures and drought negatively affect livestock and cause harvests to shrink. In 2021, the European Central Bank warned that hot summers had the major and longest-standing effect on inflation, particularly food inflation
hebephrenic. adjective. suffering from a form of schizophrenia characterized by foolish mannerisms and senseless laughter along with delusions and regressive behavior. synonyms: insane. afflicted with or characteristic of mental derangement.
hecatomb /ˈhɛkətuːm/ noun (in ancient Greece or Rome) a great public sacrifice, originally of a hundred oxen. “After Pythagoras discovered his fundamental theorem he sacrificed a hecatomb of oxen” an extensive loss of life. “excessive urbanization, global warming, and various pollutions are at the origin of this hecatomb”
Heliconia is a genus of flowering plants in the monotypic family Heliconiaceae. Most of the ca 194 known species[3] are native to the tropical Americas, but a few are indigenous to certain islands of the western Pacific and Maluku in Indonesia. – Common names for the genus include lobster-claws, toucan beak, wild plantain, or false bird-of-paradise;	Alison Lurie The Nowhere City
Commonly known as hellebores (/ˈhɛləbɔːrz/), the Eurasian[2] genus Helleborus consists of approximately 20 species of herbaceous or evergreen perennial flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae, within which it gave its name to the tribe of Helleboreae. Despite names such as “winter rose”,[3] “Christmas rose” and “Lenten rose”, hellebores are not closely related to the rose family (Rosaceae).[4] Many hellebore[5] species are poisonous.
Hellion a rowdy or mischievous person, especially a child.	Michael Connelly Echo Park p256
In ancient Italic people: Religion and mythology. …important form of divination was haruspicy, or hepatoscopy—the study of the details of the viscera, especially the livers, of sacrificial animals.
Heterodyne– relating to the production of a lower frequency from the combination of two almost equal high frequencies, as used in radio transmission.	Nothing to Lose by Lee Child
heuchera -flower
hinter Female ((sterile) mule
A hierophany is a manifestation of the sacred. The word is a formation of the Greek adjective hieros (Greek: ἱερός, ‘sacred, holy’) and the verb phainein (φαίνειν, ‘to reveal, to bring to light’).
hirune – lunchtime sleep (Japanese)
To holler calf-rope (p42) Esp in children’s games: to give in, surrender; to capitulate
Holograph : a document wholly in the handwriting of its author I own the holograph of Albert Jay Nock’s marvelous book on Jefferson, and there are fewer corrections on an average page than I write into a typical column. —William F. Buckley, Jr. also : the handwriting itself But there’s a stronger proof of humility in this particular copy, which carries an inscription in the author’s holograph: “I am told there is a great deal of tosh in this book.”
Hoopoe – Hoopoes are colourful birds found across Africa, Asia, and Europe, notable for their distinctive “crown” of feathers.	The Dyke and thehe Dybbuk
A hootenanny is an event involving music in the United States. It is particularly associated with folk music.
Hora, also known as horo and oro, is a type of circle dance originating in Aromanian and Romanian communities, especially in Romania and Moldova
A huissier de justice, sometimes anglicized as judicial officer, is an officer of the court in France and Belgium, and The officer is appointed by a magistrate of the court and holds a monopoly on the service and execution of court decisions and enforceable instruments.	James Brady, Paris One
hygroscopic /hʌɪɡrə(ʊ)ˈskɒpɪk/ adjective (of a substance) tending to absorb moisture from the air. relating to humidity or its measurement
hymeneal /ˌhʌɪmɪˈniːəl/ adjective LITERARY of or concerning marriage.	http://gaslight-lit.s3-website.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/gaslight/vandine.htm
Hypnagogia is the transition between wakefulness and sleep. During this state, it’s common to experience visual, audio, or other types of hallucinations. It’s also common to experience muscle jerks and sleep paralysis. Some people purposefully try to induce to hypnagogia to stimulate creativity
In a 1977 lecture at the Collège de France, later published in How to Live Together, Roland Barthes explored a ‘fantasy of a life, a regime, a lifestyle’ that was neither reclusive nor communal: ‘Something like solitude with regular interruptions’. Inspired by the monks of Mount Athos, Barthes proposed to call this mode of living together idiorrhythmy, from the Greek idios (one’s own) and rythmos (rhythm). ‘Fantasmatically speaking’, he says, ‘there is nothing contradictory about wanting to live alone and wanting to live together’. In idiorrhythmic communities, ‘each subject lives according to his own rhythm’ while still being ‘in contact with one another within a particular type of structure’. [New Left Review]
Idolum An insubstantial image; a spectre or phantom. A mental image or idea. A misconception or fallacy. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
Ikigai – a Japanese concept that means your ‘reason for being. ‘ ‘Iki’ in Japanese means ‘life,’ and ‘gai’ describes value or worth. Your ikigai is your life purpose or your bliss. It’s what brings you joy and inspires you to get out of bed every day.
Impasto is a technique used in painting, where paint is laid on an area of the surface thickly, usually thick enough that the brush or painting-knife strokes are visible.	FT crossword 2023 02 04
Inanition Starvation is a severe deficiency in caloric energy intake. It is the most extreme form of malnutrition. In humans, prolonged starvation can cause permanent organ damage[1] and eventually, death. The term inanition refers to the symptoms and effects of starvation. inanition /ˌɪnəˈnɪʃ(ə)n/ nounFORMAL exhaustion caused by lack of nourishment. “the members of the rear party died of inanition” lack of mental or spiritual vigour and enthusiasm. “she was thinking that old age bred inanition”
An incident weapon is “typically an anti-vehicle device intended to inflict disabling damage or prevent escape without killing the vehicle operators….The United States developed a modified Hedgehog projectile substituting a magnet and clapper for the explosive charge. If the magnet stuck to the submarine hull, flow along the hull as the submarine moved through the water caused the clapper to oscillate hammering against the hull.” (wikipedia)	after reading about 1981 Whisky on the rocks incident
inculpate /ˈɪnkʌlpeɪt,ɪnˈkʌlpeɪt/ verb accuse or blame.
infamita (countable and uncountable, plural infamitas) A most heinous act against one’s own family, or against family life in general.
Infandous – a thing too horrible to be named or uttered.  infandous (comparative more infandous, superlative most infandous) (obsolete) Extremely odious	Guardian
Like prefixes and suffixes, infixes are part of the general class of affixes (“sounds or letters attached to or inserted within a word to produce a derivative word or an inflectional form”). Infixes are relatively rare in English, but you can find them in the plural forms of some words.
Integument – a tough outer protective layer, especially that of an animal or plant. “this chemical compound is found in the integument of the seed”	Margaret Drabble “The Ice Age”
Intrados (an underside of the arch, also known as a soffit
In petto – in private : secretly. : in miniature.	Edith Wharton short story “The Descent of Man”
An inglenook or chimney corner is a recess that adjoins a fireplace. The word comes from “ingle”, an old Scots word for a domestic fire and “nook”.	Newsdeath by Ray Connolly
Intarsia is a knitting technique used to create patterns with multiple colours. As with the woodworking technique of the same name, fields of different colours and materials appear to be inlaid in one another, fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.
Isinglass (/ˈaɪzɪŋɡlæs, -ɡlɑːs/ EYE-zing-gla(h)ss) is a form of collagen obtained from the dried swim bladders of fish. The English word origin is from the obsolete Dutch huizenblaas – huizen is a kind of sturgeon, and blaas is a bladder, or German Hausenblase, meaning essentially the same. (Jacky Gillott, War Baby, p. 146
Isopleth a line on a map connecting points having equal incidence of a specified meteorological feature
Ixora is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It is the only genus in the tribe Ixoreae. It consists of tropical evergreen trees and shrubs ..	Philip Kerr If the dead rise not
The jackalope is a mythical animal of North American folklore described as a jackrabbit with antelope horns. The word jackalope is a portmanteau of jackrabbit and antelope. Many jackalope taxidermy mounts, including the original, are made with deer antlers. In the 1930s, Douglas Herrick and his brother, hunters with taxidermy skills, popularized the American jackalope by grafting deer antlers onto a jackrabbit carcass and selling the combination to a local hotel in Douglas, Wyoming. Thereafter, they made and sold many similar jackalopes to a retail outlet in South Dakota, and another taxidermist continues to manufacture the horned rabbits in the 21st century. Stuffed and mounted, jackalopes are found in many bars and other places in the United States; stores catering to tourists sell jackalope postcards and other paraphernalia, and commercial entities in America and elsewhere have used the word jackalope or a jackalope logo as part of their marketing strategies
A Muslim funeral is known as a “Janazah” and is typically conducted within 24 hours of the deceased’s passing. If the death occurs unexpectedly, exceptions may be given. Muslims commonly believe that the present life is a trial in preparation for the eternal life to come.
Japonica Japonica may refer to: Latin for “of Japan” Japonica, a British common name for garden plants of genus Chaenomeles (flowering quince) including Chaenomeles japonica and others. Camellia japonica, the common or Japanese camellia. Japonica, subgenus of Fritillaria flowering bulbous perennial plants.
Jenever (English: /dʒəˈniːvər/,[1] Dutch: [jəˈneːvər] ⓘ), also known as Hollands, genever, genièvre, peket, or sometimes as Dutch gin (archaic: Holland gin[2] or Geneva gin), is the juniper-flavoured traditional liquor in the Netherlands, Belgium and adjoining areas in northern France and northwestern Germany. As an EU and UK Protected Designation of Origin the use of the term jenever and its soundalikes can only be used if the product is made according to the specifications in Belgium, the Netherlands, two northern French departments and two German federal state
Jerboas (from Arabic: جربوع jarbūʻ ) are hopping desert rodents found throughout North Africa and Asia, and are members of the family Dipodidae.
Jeroboam Jeroboam /ˌdʒɛrəˈboʊ.əm/ (Hebrew: יָרָבְעָם yarobh`am, Greek: Ιεροβοάμ Hieroboam) was the first king of the northern Israelite Kingdom of Israel after the revolt of the ten northern Israelite tribes against Rehoboam that put an end to the United Monarchy.
Joggling https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/mar/18/the-truth-about-joggling-the-sport-for-people-who-find-running-too-easy
A johnboat[1] is a flat-bottomed boat[2] constructed of aluminum, fiberglass, wood, or polyethelene with one, two, or three seats, usually bench type. They are suitable for fishing, hunting and cruising. The nearly flat hull of a johnboat tends to ride over the waves rather than cut through them as a V-hull might; this shallow draft – only a few inches[2] – enables the johnboat to operate in very shallow water,[3] but limits its use to calm waters. Johnboats typically have a transom onto which an outboard motor can be mounted. They are simple, easy to maintain, and inexpensive, though with many options to upgrade. Typical options may include live wells/bait wells, side or center consoles, factory-installed decks and floors, electrical wiring, accessory pads/mountings, and casting and poling platforms.
Jouska A hypothetical conversation that you compulsively play out in your head.
Jugendstil, artistic style that arose in Germany about the mid-1890s and continued through the first decade of the 20th century, deriving its name from the Munich magazine Die Jugend (“Youth”), which featured Art Nouveau designs.	(Buchan, 1995 Heart’s Journey in Winter)
Jujube (UK /ˈdʒuːdʒuːb/; US /ˈdʒudʒub/ or /ˈdʒudʒəbiː/[3]), sometimes jujuba, known by the scientific name Ziziphus jujuba and also called red date, Chinese date, and Chinese jujube,[4] is a species in the genus Ziziphus in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae. It is a small deciduous tree or shrub reaching a height of 5–12 metres (16–39 feet), usually with thorny branches. The leaves are shiny-green, ovate-acute, 2–7 centimetres (3⁄4–2+3⁄4 inches) long and 1–3 cm (3⁄8–1+1⁄8 in) wide, with three conspicuous veins at the base, and a finely toothed margin.
A jumbotron,[1] sometimes referred to as jumbovision, is a video display using large-screen television technology (video wall). The original technology was developed in the early 1980s by Mitsubishi Electric[2] and Sony, which coined JumboTron as a brand name in 1985.[3] Mitsubishi Electric sold their version of the technology as Diamond Vision. It is typically used in sports stadiums and concert venues to show close up shots of an event or even other sporting events occurring simultaneously,[4][5] as well as outdoor public places
A kachina (/kəˈtʃiːnə/; also katchina, katcina, or katsina; Hopi: katsina [kaˈtsʲina], plural katsinim [kaˈtsʲinim]) is a spirit being in the religious beliefs of the Pueblo people, Native American cultures located in the south-western part of the United States. In the Pueblo cultures, kachina rites are practiced by the Hopi, Hopi-Tewa and Zuni peoples and certain Keresan tribes, as well as in most Pueblo tribes in New Mexico. The kachina concept has three different aspects: the supernatural being, the kachina dancers, and kachina dolls (small dolls carved in the likeness of the kachina, that are given only to those who are, or will be responsible for the respectful care and well-being of the doll, such as a mother, wife, or sister)	The Big Fix
In Islamic adoptional jurisprudence, “kafala” refers to the adoption of children. The original law of kafala was expanded to include a system of fixed-term sponsorship of migrant workers in several countries in the late twentieth century.
The kākāpō (/ˈkɑːkəpoʊ/ KAH-kə-poh;[3] Māori: [kaːkaːpɔː];[4] pl.: kākāpō; Strigops habroptila), sometimes known as the owl parrot or moss chicken[5], is a species of large, nocturnal, ground-dwelling parrot of the superfamily Strigopoidea. It is endemic to New Zealand.[6] Kākāpō can be up to 64 cm (25 in) long. They have a combination of unique traits among parrots: finely blotched yellow-green plumage, a distinct facial disc, owl-style forward-facing eyes with surrounding discs of specially-textured feathers, a large grey beak, short legs, large blue feet, relatively short wings and a short tail. It is the world’s only flightless parrot, the world’s heaviest parrot, and also is nocturnal, herbivorous, visibly sexually dimorphic in body size, has a low basal metabolic rate, and does not have male parental care. It is the only parrot to have a polygynous lek breeding system. It is also possibly one of the world’s longest-living birds, with a reported lifespan of up to 100 years.[7] Adult males weigh around 1.5–3 kilograms (3.3–6.6 lb); the equivalent figure for females is 0.950–1.6 kilograms (2.09–3.53 lb).
Kapok is a moisture-resistant, quick-drying, resilient, and buoyant fibre. The fibres contain both lignin, a woody plant substance, and cellulose, a carbohydrate. The inelastic fibre, or floss, is too brittle for spinning, but it weighs only one-eighth as much as cotton.
As an Ashkenazi-Jewish comfort food, kasha is often served with onions and brown gravy on top of farfalle, known as kasha varnishkes.
Kayfabe– the practice of trying to make people believe that wrestlers are particular characters, when in fact they are only pretending to be those characters
Katydids – a cousin to the grasshopper and cricket, about 4 to 6 cm in length with extremely long, thin antennae, and powerful back legs for jumping.
Kedgeree is a dish consisting of cooked, flaked fish (traditionally smoked haddock), boiled rice, parsley, hard-boiled eggs, curry powder, butter or cream (Last of the Country House Murders p.30)
The keelson or kelson[1] is a reinforcing structural member on top of the keel in the hull of a wooden[citation needed] vessel. In part V of “Song of Myself”, American poet Walt Whitman uses the phrase: “And that a kelson of the creation is love;” to imply that love is akin to a keelson, or backbone, that supports humanity.	Thea Astley
Kenopsia The eerie, forlorn atmosphere of a place that is usually bustling with people but is now abandoned and quiet.
killick /ˈkɪlɪk/ noun a heavy stone used by small craft as an anchor. a small anchor.	Thea Astley Drylands
The kudus are two species of antelope of the genus Tragelaphus: Lesser kudu, Tragelaphus imberbis, of eastern Africa Greater kudu, Tragelaphus strepsiceros, of eastern and southern Africa
Kuebiko A state of exhaustion inspired by acts of senseless violence.
Kurta A loose collarless shirt worn by people from South Asia, usually with a salwar, churidars, or pyjama. From Urdu and Persian kurtah. (source – Laing, O. 2018. Crudo p.119)
Kyōgen (狂言, “mad words” or “wild speech”) is a form of traditional Japanese comic theater. It developed alongside Noh, was performed along with Noh as an intermission of sorts between Noh acts on the same stage, and retains close links to Noh in the modern day; therefore, it is sometimes designated Noh-kyōgen. Its contents are nevertheless not at all similar to the formal, symbolic, and solemn Noh theater; kyōgen is a comic form, and its primary goal is to make its audience laugh.
Labrys is, according to Plutarch (Quaestiones Graecae 2.302a), the Lydian word for the double-bitted axe.
Lachesism The desire to be struck by disaster — to survive a plane crash, or to lose everything in a fire.
In Sikhism, a langar (Punjabi: ਲੰਗਰ, pronunciation: [lʌŋɾ], ‘kitchen’) is the community kitchen of a gurdwara, which serves meals to all free of charge, regardless of religion, caste, gender, economic status, or ethnicity.
lapidate (pelt with stones)
Clinker built (also known as lapstrake) is a method of boat building in which the edges of hull planks overlap each other. Where necessary in larger craft, …
The lagomorphs are the members of the taxonomic order Lagomorpha, of which there are two living families: the Leporidae (hares and rabbits)	Bones of Coral by James W. Hall, p.38
Lapidary  relating to the engraving, cutting, or polishing of stones and gems.
Larches are deciduous conifers in the genus Larix, of the family Pinaceae (subfamily Laricoideae). Growing from 20 to 45 metres (65 to 150 feet) tall,[1] they are native to the cooler regions of the northern hemisphere, where they are found in lowland forests in the high latitudes, and high in mountains further south. Larches are among the dominant plants in the boreal forests of Siberia and Canada. Although they are conifers, larches are deciduous trees that lose their needles in the autumn.
A lasso or lazo (/ˈlæsoʊ/ or /læˈsuː/), also called in Mexico reata and la reata,[1][2] and in the United States riata or lariat[3] (from Mexican Spanish, lasso for roping cattle),[4] is a loop of rope designed as a restraint to be thrown around a target and tightened when pulled.
An open or lay down misère, or misère ouvert is a 500 bid where the player is so sure of losing every trick that they undertake to do so with their cards placed face-up on the table. Consequently, ‘lay down misère’ is Australian gambling slang for a predicted easy victory
A lazaretto /ˌlæzəˈrɛtoʊ/ or lazaret is a quarantine station for maritime travelers. Lazarets can be ships permanently at anchor, isolated islands, or mainland buildings.
lentic (of organisms or habitats) inhabiting or situated in still fresh water.
Levitical (of a rule of conduct, temple ritual, etc.) derived from the biblical Book of Leviticus. “a Levitical edict”
liana, any long-stemmed, woody vine that is rooted in the soil and climbs or twines around other plants. They are a conspicuous component of tropical forest ecosystems and represent one of the most important structural differences between tropical and temperate forests.
Liberosis The desire to care less about things.
Limerence is a state of infatuation or obsession with another person that involves an all-consuming passion and intrusive thoughts.
Limitarianism  is the first solution which makes this common-sense connection: if there is a poverty line, there must also be an extreme wealth line. We will only solve the related problems of inequality and poverty by putting a hard limit on the amount of wealth one person might hoard.
Linctus – An oral solution for symptomatic relief of coughs.
litotes /ˈlʌɪtətiːz,lʌɪˈtəʊtiːz/ noun ironic understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary (e.g. I shan’t be sorry for I shall be glad ).
Loden cape, water-resistant material (usually green) in Austrian traditional clothing made from sheep’s wool, without removing the lanolin
Lollygaging to fool around and waste time : dawdle. Stop lollygagging and get to work.
Longeron – a longitudinal structural component of an aircraft’s fuselage.
Lorgnette a pair of glasses or opera glasses held in front of a person’s eyes by a long handle at one side.
A loupe (/ˈluːp/ LOOP) is a simple, small magnification device used to see small details more closely.[1] They generally have higher magnification than a magnifying glass, and are designed to be held or worn close to the eye. A loupe does not have an attached handle, and its focusing lens(es) are contained in an opaque cylinder or cone. On some loupes this cylinder folds into an enclosing housing that protects the lenses when not in use.
A lunette (French lunette, “little moon”) is a half-moon shaped architectural space, variously filled with sculpture, painted, glazed, filled with recessed masonry, or void. A lunette may also be segmental, and the arch may be an arc taken from an oval. A lunette window is commonly called a half-moon window, or fanlight when bars separating its panes fan out radially.
A lychgate, also spelled lichgate, lycugate, lyke-gate or as two separate words lych gate, (from Old English lic, corpse), also wych gate, is a gateway covered with a roof found at the entrance to a traditional English or English-style churchyard.	Miles Kington How Shall I tell the dog
Lyocell is a semi-synthetic fabric that is commonly used as a substitute for cotton or silk. This fabric is a form of rayon, and it is composed primarily of cellulose derived from wood.	Assembly by Natasha Brown
Magyarization (UK: /ˌmædʒəraɪˈzeɪʃən/ US: /ˌmɑːdʒərɪ-/, also Hungarianization; Hungarian: magyarosítás), after “Magyar”—the Hungarian autonym—was an assimilation or acculturation process by which non-Hungarian nationals living in the Kingdom of Hungary, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, adopted the Hungarian national identity and language in the period between the Compromise of 1867 and Austria-Hungary’s dissolution in 1918. Magyarization occurred both voluntarily and as a result of social pressure, and was mandated in certain respects by specific government policies
Mahseers inhabit both rivers and lakes, with some species believed to ascend into rapid streams with rocky bottoms for breeding. Like other types of carps,	(Buchan, 1995 Heart’s Journey in Winter)
Maillot – a pair of tights, especially as worn by ballet dancers and circus artistes. “she was dressed in a flesh-coloured leotard, gauzy maillot, and a thigh-skimming tunic”	Fieldwork by Maureen Moore
Malacca, the stem of the rattan palm, used for making walking sticks and umbrella sticks
Malachite is a copper carbonate hydroxide mineral, with the formula Cu2CO3(OH)2. This opaque, green-banded mineral crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system, and most often forms botryoidal, fibrous, or stalagmitic masses, in fractures and deep, underground spaces, where the water table and hydrothermal fluids provide the means for chemical precipitation
Like Italian biscotti, mandelbrot (“almond bread” in Yiddish) are baked twice, yielding a crunchy cookie that goes perfectly with tea or coffee.
Mandem British slang. a group of close male friends.
mandorla, (Italian: “almond”), in religious art, almond-shaped aureole of light surrounding the entire figure of a holy person; it was used in Christian art usually for the figure of Christ and is also found in the art of Buddhism.
mansard /ˈmansɑːd/ noun a roof which has four sloping sides, each of which becomes steeper halfway down. BRITISH another term for gambrel. a storey or apartment under a mansard roof.	Philip Kerr If the Dead Rise Not
Manticore a legendary animal with the head of a man, the body of a lion, and the tail of a dragon or scorpion.
Maquette A maquette (French word for scale model, sometimes referred to by the Italian names plastico or modello) is a small scale model or rough draft of an unfinished sculpture. An equivalent term is bozzetto, from the Italian word that means “sketch”.
A marae is a fenced-in complex of carved buildings and grounds that belongs to a particular iwi (tribe), hapū (sub-tribe) or whānau (family). Māori see their marae as their tūrangawaewae – their place to stand and belong.
marcotte f (plural marcottes) cutting, layer (horticulture)
Margrave nounHISTORICAL the hereditary title of some princes of the Holy Roman Empire
Margravine – wife of a margrave
Ammophila (synonymous with Psamma P. Beauv.) is a genus of flowering plants consisting of two or three very similar species of grasses. The common names for these grasses include marram grass, bent grass, and beachgrass.[2] These grasses are found almost exclusively on the first line of coastal sand dunes. Their extensive systems of creeping underground stems or rhizomes allow them to thrive under conditions of shifting sands and high winds, and to help stabilize and prevent coastal erosion.	Sarah Moss (2018) Ghost Wall.
A Martenitsa (Bulgarian: мартеница, pronounced [ˈmartɛnit͡sa]; Macedonian: мартинка, romanized: martinka; Greek: μάρτης, romanized: mártis; Romanian: mărțișor; Albanian: verore) is a small piece of adornment, made of white and red yarn and usually in the form of two dolls, a white male and a red female. Martenitsi are worn from Baba Marta Day (March 1) until the wearer first sees a stork, swallow, or blossoming tree (or until the end of March (April 1)).
The Russian term маскировка (maskirovka) literally means masking. An early military meaning was camouflage, soon extended to battlefield masking using smoke and other methods of screening. From there it came to have the broader meaning of military deception, widening to include denial and deception.
Mauerbauertraurigkeit The inexplicable urge to push people away, even close friends who you really like.
Maydl Girl, young woman, from Austrian Maedel.
measurebate (slang) To focus excessively on technical specifications (of a camera or other electronic device).	Twitter, 12 July 2023
Megillah: A tediously detailed discourse
Meilograph is an instrument for measuring the lengths of arbitrary curved lines.
Menticide The concept of “menticide” indicates an organized system of judicial perversion and psychological intervention, in which a powerful tyrant transfers his own thoughts and words into the minds and mouths of the victims he plans to destroy or to use for his own propaganda. Abstract of this.
In Mexican cuisine, Menudo, also known as pancita ([little] gut or [little] stomach) or mole de panza (“stomach sauce”), is a traditional Mexican soup, made with cow’s stomach (tripe) in broth with a red chili pepper base. Hominy, lime, onions, and oregano are used to season the broth. It differs from the Filipino dish of the same name, in that the latter does not use tripe or a chili sauce.
Mercery (from French mercerie, meaning “habderdashery” (goods) or “haberdashery” (a shop trading in textiles and notions) initially referred to silk, linen and fustian textiles among various other piece goods imported to England in the 12th century.[1]: 2  Eventually, the term evolved to refer to a merchant or trader of textile goods, especially imported textile goods, particularly in England. A merchant would be known as a mercer, and the profession as mercery.
meshugah -insane,  Crazy, foolish, idiotic, or senseless (yiddish)
mesopause /ˈmɛsə(ʊ)pɔːz,ˈmɛzə(ʊ)pɔːz,ˈmiːsə(ʊ)pɔːz,ˈmiːzə(ʊ)pɔːz/ noun the boundary in the earth’s atmosphere between the mesosphere and the thermosphere, at which the temperature stops decreasing with increasing height and begins to increase.	Joost Merloo
Metanoia, an Ancient Greek word (μετάνοια) meaning “changing one’s mind“, may refer to: Metanoia (psychology), the process of experiencing a psychotic “breakdown” and subsequent, positive psychological re-building or “healing”
Metier an occupation or activity that one is good at.
mezuzah, small folded or rolled parchment inscribed by a qualified calligraphist with scriptural verses (Deuteronomy 6:4–9, 11:13–21) to remind Jews of their obligations toward God
Mezzotint is a monochrome printmaking process of the intaglio family. It was the first printing process that yielded half-tones without using line- or dot-based techniques like hatching, cross-hatching or stipple. Mezzotint achieves tonality by roughening a metal plate with thousands of little dots made by a metal tool with small teeth, called a “rocker”. In printing, the tiny pits in the plate retain the ink when the face of the plate is wiped clean. This technique can achieve a high level of quality and richness in the print, and produce a furniture print which is large and bold enough to be framed and hung effectively in a room.[
Mikveh or mikvah is a bath used for the purpose of ritual immersion in Judaism to achieve ritual purity.	(The Dyke and the Dybbuk)
A word that is midway in meaning between two opposite extremes (i.e. the words between two antonyms). The miranym of hot and cold is warm.
Minatory expressing or conveying a threat
Miscanthus, or silvergrass,[4] is a genus of African, Eurasian, and Pacific Island plants in the grass family, Poaceae
Misericord /mɪˈzɛrɪkɔːd/ noun 1. a ledge projecting from the underside of a hinged seat in a choir stall which, when the seat is turned up, gives support to someone standing. 2. an apartment in a monastery in which some relaxations of the monastic rule were permitted.	Thexxx Dyke and thhe Dybbuke Dybbuk
Missal is a liturgical book containing all instructions and texts necessary for the celebration of Mass throughout the year.
moil /mɔɪl/ ARCHAIC•DIALECT verb gerund or present participle: moiling 1. work hard. “men who moiled for gold” 2. move around in confusion or agitation. “a crowd of men and women moiled in the smoky haze”	Luke Rhinehart “The Long Way Back”
momager (plural momagers) (US, slang) A showbusiness manager who is also the performer’s mother.
Monachopsis The subtle but persistent feeling of being out of place.
A mondegreen (/ˈmɒndɪˌɡriːn/) is a mishearing or misinterpretation of a phrase in a way that gives it a new meaning.[1] Mondegreens are most often created by a person listening to a poem or a song; the listener, being unable to hear a lyric clearly, substitutes words that sound similar and make some kind of sense.[2][3] The American writer Sylvia Wright coined the term in 1954	Neglected books email 6 Nov 2023
Monophysitism was the idea that Jesus had only one nature, either human or divine. This idea had little support, as it was consistently rejected by many church leaders during the establishment of doctrine. These debates occurred at the Seven Ecumenical Councils, where many monophysite groups were declared heretics.
Moquette is the durable, woollen seating material that is used in upholstery on public transport all over the world. Coming from the French word for carpet, moquette has been seen and sat upon by millions of commuters on buses, trains, trams and trolleybuses for over 100 years.
Morchella, the true morels, is a genus of edible sac fungi closely related to anatomically simpler cup fungi in the order Pezizales (division Ascomycota).	(Buchan, 1995 Heart’s Journey in Winter)
Moskonfyt – A thick grape syrup used as a jam or sweetener	FT crossword 2023 04 08
The Japanese have a word – Mottainai – for the reverence that should be paid to efficiency and the sadness caused by waste.
Motorvated- To drive. As I was motorvating over the hill, I saw Maybellene in a Coupe De Ville
Mullioned – /ˈmʌliənd/ /ˈmʌliənd/ [only before noun] (architecture) ​(of a window) having one or more solid vertical pieces of stone, wood or metal between different parts of the window. mullioned windows.	From “The Nowhere City”
Murketing “Blurring calculated dishonesty with impassioned sincerity, murketing operationalises a double-truth dialectic which treats consumers as both subjects and objects within the process of their own persuasion”	Stephen Dunne (2018) ‘Murketing’ and the rhetoric of the new sincerity, Journal of Marketing Management, 34:15-16, 1296-1318, DOI: 10.1080/0267257X.2018.1484791
The common murre is a pursuit-diver that forages for food by swimming underwater using its wings for propulsion.
The Asian palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), also called common palm civet, toddy cat and musang, is a viverrid native to South and Southeast Asia.
mustelid – The Mustelidae (/mʌˈstɛlɪdiː/;[2] from Latin mustela, weasel) are a family of carnivorous mammals, including weasels, badgers, otters, martens, and wolverines. Mustelids (/ˈmʌstɪlɪdz/[3]) are a diverse group and form the largest family in the suborder Caniformia of the order Carnivora with about 66 to 70 species in nine subfamilies	Jonathan Guthrie piece in FT
Myiasis is infection with a fly larva, usually occurring in tropical and subtropical areas. There are several ways for flies to transmit their larvae to people. Some flies deposit their eggs on or near a wound or sore, the larvae that hatch burrow into the skin.
Myokines are defined as cytokines and other peptides that are produced, expressed and released by muscle fibers and exert either autocrine, paracrine, or endocrine effects.	Guardian article
Mysida is an order of small, shrimp-like crustaceans in the malacostracan superorder Peracarida. Their common name opossum shrimps stems from the presence of a brood pouch or “marsupium” in females. The fact that the larvae are reared in this pouch and are not free-swimming characterises the order. The mysid’s head bears a pair of stalked eyes and two pairs of antennae. The thorax consists of eight segments each bearing branching limbs, the whole concealed beneath a protective carapace and the abdomen has six segments and usually further small limbs. Mysids are found throughout the world in both shallow and deep marine waters where they can be benthic or pelagic,
Nacre (/ˈneɪkər/ NAY-kər, also /ˈnækrə/ NAK-rə),[1] also known as mother of pearl, is an organic–inorganic composite material produced by some molluscs as an inner shell layer. It is also the material of which pearls are composed. It is strong, resilient, and iridescent.
nallunguarluku  – pretend it didn’t happen in an Inuit (?) language.	From Guardian article about Covid.
The now-obscure term ‘Natopolitan’ appears to have been coined by the British Marxist historian EP Thompson in the late 1970s. It referred not just to NATO proper, but also (in a later gloss by Edward Said) to ‘a mentality whose web extended over a lot more activity and thought’.
necrobiome, the ecosystem of carcasses. In the necrobiome, dead matter is not inert—it is a base unit of life: Carrion beetles pilfer, maggots feast, seeds scatter, raccoons scavenge, vultures peck, and microbes bloom.  “If you zoom in to the microbial level, life is exploding. It’s multiplying, it’s diversifying,” Jeffery Tomberlin, a professor in entomology at Texas A&M, told me. “It’s a beautiful thing.”	New Republic article
A netsuke (根付, [netsɯ̥ke]) is a miniature sculpture, originating in 17th century Japan. Initially a simply-carved button fastener on the cords of an inrō box, netsuke later developed into ornately sculpted objects of craftsmanship.	Zero Trap Paula Gosling
A newel, also called a central pole or support column, is the central supporting pillar of a staircase. It can also refer to an upright post that supports and/or terminates the handrail of a stair banister (the “newel post”).	Nothing to Lose by Lee Child
In biology, nidifugous (UK: /naɪˈdɪfjʊɡəs/ ny-DIF-yuu-gəs, US: /-jə-/ -⁠yə-) organisms are those that leave the nest shortly after hatching or birth.[1] The term is derived from Latin nidus for “nest” and fugere, meaning “to flee”.[1] The terminology is most often used to describe birds and was introduced by Lorenz Oken in 1816.[2] The chicks of birds in many families, such as the waders, waterfowl, and gamebirds, are usually nidifugous. The opposite of nidifugous organisms are nidicolous (/naɪˈdɪkələs/ ny-DIK-ə-ləs; from Latin nidus “nest” and -colus “inhabiting”) organisms; a nidicolous organism is one which stays at its birthplace for a long time because it depends on its parents for food, protection, and the learning of survival skills. Examples of nidicolous species include mammals and many species of birds. During the life span, the brain of a nidicolous animal expands 8–10 times its initial size; in nidifugous animals, it expands from 1.5 to 2.5 time	10 August 2023
niksen, the Dutch term for doing absolutely nothing. I try not to think about whether I am really doing nothing if I am standing on a beach. Maybe I should be sitting down? But then I would be sitting down. How do you niksen properly? Being effortlessly aimless next to me is Olga Mecking, the author of Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing	https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/feb/07/the-art-of-doing-nothing-have-the-dutch-found-the-answer-to-burnout-culture
Nickel titanium, also known as nitinol, is a metal alloy of nickel and titanium, where the two elements are present in roughly equal atomic percentages.
Nodus Tollens The realization that the plot of your life doesn’t make sense to you anymore.
A novena is a ritualistic devotional worship where one or more Christian devotees make petitions, implore favors, or obtain graces by honoring Jesus Christ,
Megalithic defensive structures known as nuraghi date from the Middle to Late Bronze Age (c. 1600-1200 BCE), and are unique to Sardinia. Nuraghi are characterised by circular defensive towers in the form of truncated cones built of dressed stone with corbel-vaulted internal chambers.
obe·​ah ˈō-bē-ə variants or less commonly obi. ˈō-bē often capitalized. : a system of belief among Black people chiefly of the British West Indies and the Guianas that is characterized by the use of magic ritual to ward off misfortune or to cause harm.
Obelus – division sign
Objets de vertu are small luxury objects that are not termed jewelry in the strictest sense of the word. (Jewelry refers to objects designed as adornment to be worn on the person.) (Last of the Country House Murders p.34)
Objurgate – express strong disapproval	FT crossword 2023 07 01
An obstruent (/ˈɒbstruːənt/ OB-stroo-ənt) is a speech sound such as [k], [d͡ʒ], or [f] that is formed by obstructing airflow.
Obtund – to blunt, deaden (of pain)	A Samuel Johnson essay.
The ocarina is a wind musical instrument; it is a type of vessel flute.[1] Variations exist, but a typical ocarina is an enclosed space with four to twelve finger holes and a mouthpiece that projects from the body. It is traditionally made from clay or ceramic, but other materials are also used, such as plastic, wood, glass, metal, or bone.	The Big Fix by Roger L. Simon
Occhiolism The awareness of the smallness of your perspective.
oche /ˈɒki/ noun the line behind which darts players stand when throwing.
Fouquieria splendens (commonly known as ocotillo /ɒkəˈtiːjoʊ/ (Latin American Spanish: [okoˈtiʝo]), but also referred to as buggywhip, coachwhip, candlewood, slimwood, desert coral, Jacob’s staff, Jacob cactus, and vine cactus) is a plant indigenous to the Mojave Desert, Sonoran Desert, Chihuahuan Desert and Colorado Desert in the Southwestern United States (southern California, southern Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas), and northern Mexico (as far south as Hidalgo and Guerrero).[3][4]
Octothorp – official name for a hashtag
Omphalos /ˈɒmfəlɒs/ noun LITERARY the centre or hub of something. “this was the omphalos of confusion” 2. (in ancient Greece) a conical stone (especially that at Delphi) representing the navel of the earth.
omphaloskeptic (plural omphaloskeptics) One who contemplates or meditates upon one’s navel; one who engages in omphaloscopy.
Oneiric – relating to dreams or dreaming
Onigiri Onigiri (お握り or 御握り), also known as omusubi (お結び), nigirimeshi (握り飯), or rice ball, is a Japanese food made from white rice formed into triangular or cylindrical shapes and often wrapped in nori.
Onism The frustration of being stuck in just one body, that inhabits only one place at a time.
The operculum (from Latin operculum ‘cover, covering’;  pl. opercula  or operculums) is a corneous or calcareous anatomical structure like a trapdoor that exists in many (but not all) groups of sea snails and freshwater snails, and also in a few groups of land snails;
Opaline translucent glass of colour other than white
Opia The ambiguous intensity of Looking someone in the eye, which can feel simultaneously invasive and vulnerable.
An opisometer, is an instrument for measuring the lengths of arbitrary curved lines.
The oprichnina (Russian: опри́чнина, IPA: [ɐˈprʲitɕnʲɪnə]) was a state policy implemented by Tsar Ivan the Terrible in Russia between 1565 and 1572. The policy included mass repression of the boyars (Russian aristocrats), including public executions and confiscation of their land and property…. The term oprichnina, which Ivan coined for this policy, derives from the Russian word oprich (Russian: опричь, apart from, except).
ora pro nobis – pray for us	Thea Astley Drylands
Organza is a thin, plain weave, sheer fabric traditionally made from silk.	My Generation Michael Gross Page 46
An oriel window is a form of bay window which protrudes from the main wall of a building but does not reach to the ground.[1] Supported by corbels, brackets, or similar cantilevers, an oriel window is most commonly found projecting from an upper floor but is also sometimes used on the ground floor.
Orgue – row of stakes let down by a portcullis
Oriflamme (from Latin aurea flamma, “golden flame”), a pointed, blood-red banner flown from a gilded lance, was the battle standard of the King of France in the Middle Ages. The	From Macmillan’s 1953 memo about the London smog
Orlop the lowest deck of a wooden sailing ship with three or more decks.	Privat Eye 1622
orthorexia /ˌɔːθəˈrɛksɪə/ noun an obsession with eating foods that one considers healthy. a medical condition in which the sufferer systematically avoids specific foods that they believe to be harmful.
The ortolan (Emberiza hortulana), also called ortolan bunting, is a Eurasian bird in the bunting family Emberizidae, a passerine family now separated by most modern scholars from the finches, Fringillidae. The genus name Emberiza is from Alemannic German Embritz, a bunting. The specific hortulana is from the Italian name for this bird, ortolana.[2] The English ortolan is derived from Middle French hortolan, “gardener”.[3] The ortolan is served in French cuisine, typically cooked and eaten whole. Traditionally diners cover their heads with their napkin or a towel while eating the delicacy. The bird is so widely used that its French populations dropped dangerously low, leading to laws restricting its use in 1999. In September 2007, the French government announced its intent to enforce long-ignored laws protecting the bird	Company K by William March
Oseledets (Ukrainian: оселедець, IPA: [oseˈlɛdetsʲ]) or chub (Ukrainian: чуб, IPA: [tʃub]) is a traditional Ukrainian hairstyle that features a long lock of hair sprouting from the top or the front of an otherwise closely shaven head (similar to a modern Mohawk)	FT magazine (16 Dec 2023) profile of Oleksandr Usyk
oubliette – a very small and isolated room or dungeon, also called a bottle dungeon, accessible from a small hole or hatch.
Oxalic acid is an organic acid with the systematic name ethanedioic acid and formula HO 2C−CO 2H, also written as (CO 2H) 2. It is the simplest dicarboxylic acid. It is a white crystalline solid that forms a colorless solution in water.
Oxocracy – rule by those who ween to to Oxford (a neologism coined by Simon Kuper, in his book Chums)
The oxpeckers are two species of bird which make up the genus Buphagus, and family Buphagidae. The oxpeckers were formerly usually treated as a subfamily, Buphaginae, within the starling family, Sturnidae, but molecular phylogenetic studies have consistently shown that they form a separate lineage that is basal to the sister clades containing the Sturnidae and the Mimidae (mockingbirds, thrashers, and allies). Oxpeckers are endemic to the savanna of Sub-Saharan Africa.
The paenula or casula was a cloak worn by the Romans, akin to the poncho (i.e., a large piece of material with a hole for the head to go through, .
Palanquin  (in India and the East) a covered litter for one passenger, consisting of a large box carried on two horizontal poles by four or six bearers.
In histopathology, a palisade is a single layer of relatively long cells, arranged loosely perpendicular to a surface and parallel to each other	After reading about Charles Whitman (The Texas sniper).
Serenoa repens, commonly known as saw palmetto, is a small palm, growing to a maximum height around 200–300 cm (6.6–9.8 ft).	The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield
Paltering is the active use of selective truthful statements to mislead. The term as applied in psychology and mediation studies was developed by researchers at the John F. Kennedy School of Government in the late 2000s. The first known use of palter to describe acting insincerely or deceitfully was in the 1580s	email (Sam Gunsch)
Panocha mani (also spelled as panutsa mani), or simply panutsa or samani, is a Filipino brittle confection made with muscovado sugar or sangkaka (native jaggery), whole peanuts, and butter (or margarine). It can also be made with whole pili nuts.
panatella /ˌpanəˈtɛlə/ noun a long thin cigar	The Big Fix by Roger L. Simon
panjandrum /panˈdʒandrəm/ noun a person who has or claims to have a great deal of authority or influence. “the greatest scientific panjandrum of the 19th century”
Pantalettes are undergarments covering the legs worn by women, girls, and very young boys (before they were breeched) in the early- to mid-19th century. Pantalettes originated in France in the early 19th century, and quickly spread to Britain and America. Pantalettes were similar to leggings. They could be one-piece or two separate garments, one for each leg, attached at the waist with buttons or laces. The crotch was left open for hygiene reasons. They were most often of white linen fabric and could be decorated with tucks, lace, cutwork or broderie anglaise.
A pantile is a type of fired roof tile, normally made from clay. It is S-shaped in profile and is single lap, meaning that the end of the tile laps only the course immediately below. Flat tiles normally lap two courses
panucha is the Mexican dirty word for vagina. It is similar to the word pussy, or cunt.
Pappardelle are large, very broad, flat pasta, similar to wide fettuccine, originating from the Tuscany region of Italy.	(source – Laing, O. 2018. Crudo p.93)
Paragone (Italian: paragone, meaning comparison), was a debate during the Italian Renaissance in which painting and sculpture (and to a degree, architecture) were each championed as forms of art superior and distinct to each other.[1] While other art forms, such as architecture and poetry existed in the context of the debate, painting and sculpture were the primary focus of the debat
Paraphasia is a type of language output error commonly associated with aphasia, and characterized by the production of unintended syllables, words, or phrases during the effort to speak. Paraphasic errors are most common in patients with fluent forms of aphasia, and come in three forms: phonemic or literal, neologistic, and verbal.[1] Paraphasias can affect metrical information, segmental information, number of syllables, or both. Some paraphasias preserve the meter without segmentation, and some do the opposite. However, most paraphasias affect both partially.[2] The term was apparently introduced in 1877 by the German-English physician Julius Althaus in his book on Diseases of the Nervous System, in a sentence reading, “In some cases there is a perfect chorea or delirium of words, which may be called paraphasia
Parataxis (from Greek: παράταξις, “act of placing side by side”; from παρα, para “beside” + τάξις, táxis “arrangement”) is a literary technique, in writing or speaking, that favors short, simple sentences, without conjunctions or with the use of coordinating, but not with subordinating conjunctions.[1][2] It contrasts with syntaxis and hypotaxis.
Parataxic distortion is a psychiatric term first used by Harry S. Sullivan to describe the inclination to skew perceptions of others based on fantasy.
Paregoric, or camphorated tincture of opium, also known as tinctura opii camphorata, is a traditional patent medicine known for its antidiarrheal, antitussive, and analgesic properties. According to Goodman and Gilman’s 1965 edition, “Paregoric is a 4% opium tincture in which there is also benzoic acid, camphor, and anise oil. … Paregoric by tradition is used especially for children.”
Parosmia is a distorted sense of smell. It happens when smell receptor cells in your nose don’t detect odors or transmit them to your brain. Causes include bacterial or viral infections, head trauma, neurological conditions and COVID-19. Parosmia is usually temporary, but in some cases, it’s permanent
Partouse – threesome/orgy
In ballet, a pas de deux [pɑ d(ə) dø] (French, literally “step of two”) is a dance duet in which two dancers, typically a male and a female, perform ballet steps together.[1][2] The pas de deux is characteristic of classical ballet and can be found in many well-known ballets
pasquinade – a satire or lampoon, originally one displayed or delivered in a public place. “he delivered a long pasquinade at the expense of my friend”
pastern/ˈpastn/ Noun the sloping part of a horse’s foot between the fetlock and the hoof. a corresponding part in some other domestic animals.
Paulownia (/pɔːˈloʊniə/ paw-LOH-nee-ə) is a genus of seven to 17 species of hardwood tree (depending on taxonomic authority) in the family Paulowniaceae, the order Lamiales. They are present in much of China, south to northern Laos and Vietnam and are long cultivated elsewhere in eastern Asia, notably in Japan and Korea.	Utz, p.69
Paya[1] is a traditional food from South Asia. It is served at various festivals and gatherings, or made for special guests. Paya means ‘leg’/’feet’ in Hindi/Urdu.[2] The main ingredients of the dish are the trotters (hooves) of a cow, goat, buffalo , or sheep, cooked with various spices.	The Big Fix by Roger L. Simon
Pecten is a genus of large scallops or saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs in the family Pectinidae, the scallop
peduncle /pɪˈdʌŋkl/ noun noun: peduncle; plural noun: peduncles BOTANY the stalk bearing a flower or fruit,
In the late Middle Ages, the Anglo-French word pelfre, meaning “booty” or “stolen goods,” was borrowed into English as pelf with the added meaning of “property.” (Pelfre is also an ancestor of the English verb pilfer, meaning “to steal.”) Eventually, pelf showed gains when people began to use it for “money” and “riches …
Pelmeni are traditional Russian dumplings made with a simple dough of flour, water, eggs, and salt
Pendent 1. : jutting or leaning over : overhanging. a pendent cliff. 2. : supported from above : suspended	Company K by William March
In geomorphology and geology, a peneplain is a low-relief plain formed by protracted erosion.
Peradventure /ˌpəːrədˈvɛntʃə,p(ə)rədˈvɛntʃə/ ARCHAIC•HUMOROUS adverb perhaps. “peradventure I’m not as wealthy as he is” noun uncertainty or doubt as to whether something is the case. “that shows beyond peradventure the strength of the economy”
Peridotite is a generic name used for coarse-grained, dark-colored, ultramafic igneous rocks. Peridotites usually contain olivine as their primary mineral, frequently with other mafic minerals such as pyroxenes and amphiboles.
perilune – point in a spaceship’s orbit around he moon when it is closest to the moon	The Apollo Murders by Chri sHadfield
Perovskite is a common mineral in the Ca-Al-rich inclusions found in some chondritic meteorites. The stability of perovskite in igneous rocks is limited by its reaction relation with sphene.
Periwinkle – type of mollusc or Periwinkle is a color in the blue and violet family. Its name is derived from the lesser periwinkle or myrtle herb (Vinca minor) which bears flowers of the same color. The color periwinkle is also called lavender blue and light blue violet.[2] The color periwinkle may be considered a pale tint of purple-blue in the Munsell color system, or a “pastel purple-blue”. The first recorded use of periwinkle as a color name in English was in 1922
persiflage – light and slightly contemptuous mockery or banter.	(had thought this meant trickery with a gaudy aspect)
peruke, also called periwig, man’s wig, especially the type popular from the 17th to the early 19th century. It was made of long hair, often with curls on the sides, and was sometimes drawn back on the nape of the neck.	Curtain Call by Anthony Quinn
pessoptimist – The novel’s name comes from merging the Arabic words for pessimist (al-mutasha’im المتشائم) and optimist (al-mutafa’il المتفائل), to describe the narrator Saeed’s unique way of viewing the world.[2] Saeed, the novel’s narrator, frequently recounts tragic events related to his family and the plight of Palestinians, but adds in comic flourishes to show his “optimistic” side
petillant – of wine, slightly sparkling/bubbly/fizzy	Cast in order of disappearance by Simon Brett
In botany, the petiole (/ˈpiːti.oʊl/) is the stalk that attaches the leaf blade to the stem.[1]: 87 [2]: 171  It is able to twist the leaf to face the sun, producing a characteristic foliage arrangement (spacing of blades), and also optimizing its exposure to sunlight.[3][4] Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole in some species are called stipules. The terms petiolate and apetiolate are applied respectively to leaves with and without petioles.
petrichor /ˈpɛtrʌɪkɔː/nnoun a pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather. “other than the petrichor emanating from the rapidly drying grass, there was not a trace of evidence that it had rained at all”	From First Dog on the Moon 8 December 2023
Phubbing, for the uninitiated, is a portmanteau of “phone” and “snubbing” – in other words, when you ignore a friend or significant other in favour of your digital device.
	1979 by Val McDermid
Phlox (/ˈflɒks/; Greek φλόξ “flame”; plural “phlox” or “phloxes”, Greek φλόγες phlóges) is a genus of 67 species of perennial and annual plants in the family Polemoniaceae. They are found mostly in North America (one in Siberia) in diverse habitats from alpine tundra to open woodland and prairie. Some flower in spring, others in summer and fall. Flowers may be pale blue, violet, pink, bright red, or white. Many are fragrant.	Utz, p.154
Phronetic social science is an approach to the study of social phenomena based on a contemporary interpretation of the classical Greek concept phronesis, variously translated as practical judgment, practical wisdom, common sense, or prudence	https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-phronesis-phronetic-social-science-bent-flyvbjerg-%E5%82%85%E4%BB%A5%E6%96%8C-/
Phthisis /ˈ(f)θʌɪsɪs,ˈtʌɪsɪs/ nounARCHAIC•MEDICINE pulmonary tuberculosis or a similar progressive wasting disease.
Pibroch, piobaireachd or ceòl mòr is an art music genre associated primarily with the Scottish Highlands that is characterised by extended compositions with a melodic theme and elaborate formal variations. Strictly meaning ‘piping’ in Scottish Gaelic, piobaireachd has for some four centuries been music of the great Highland bagpipe.
Picayune of little value or significance; petty. “the picayune squabbling of party politicians”
The Pickelhaube (German: [ˈpɪkl̩ˌhaʊ̯bə] ⓘ; pl. Pickelhauben, pronounced [ˈpɪkl̩ˌhaʊ̯bn̩] ⓘ; from German: Pickel, lit. ’point’ or ‘pickaxe’, and Haube, lit. ’bonnet’, a general word for “headgear”), also Pickelhelm, is a spiked leather or metal helmet that was worn in the 19th and 20th centuries by Prussian and German soldiers of all ranks, firefighters and police. Although it is typically associated with the Prussian Army, which adopted it in 1842–43,[1] the helmet was widely imitated by other armies during that period.[2] It is still worn today as part of ceremonial wear in the militaries of certain countries, such as Sweden, Chile, and Colombia.
Picric acid was named from the Greek word pikros, which means “bitter” due to its bitter taste (5). It was used to dye silk and wool yellow. Workers making picric acid during World War I were called “canaries” because their skin was stained yellow (6). The explosive characteristics of Picric acid were discovered early. Source
Pifke – a derogatory term used for Germans in Austria, but also used in Berlinese dialect where it is pronounced pifke.
Pilaf In Greek cuisine, piláfi (πιλάφι) is fluffy and soft, but neither soupy nor sticky, rice that has been boiled in a meat stock or bouillon broth.
Pinard is a French term for wine (particularly red wine), popularised as the label for the ration of wine issued to French troops during the First World War. The term became wrapped up in the public conception of the poilu (“hairy one”, the typical French foot soldier) and his beloved pinard, joined in a “cult of wine”	Company K by William March
Pinetum  the name used to describe an arboretum (tree collection) that consists mainly of conifers. (Blott on the Landscape)
pinguid – of the nature of or resembling fat; oily or greasy.
The term ‘pirogue‘ does not refer to a specific kind of boat, but is a generic term for small native boats in regions once colonized by France and Spain, particularly dugouts made from a single log	Tim Page’s memoir “Page after Page”
pilaster – a rectangular column, especially one projecting from a wall. Pilaster In classical architecture, a pilaster is an architectural element used to give the appearance of a supporting column and to articulate an extent of wall, with only an ornamental function.	Lurie The Nowhere City
Pizzicato (/ˌpɪtsɪˈkɑːtoʊ/, Italian: [pittsiˈkaːto]; translated as “pinched”, and sometimes roughly as “plucked”)[1] is a playing technique that involves plucking the strings of a string instrument. The exact technique varies somewhat depending on the type of instrument	The lyrics of Vienna, by Ultravox
Plainsong Plainsong (also plainchant; Latin: cantus planus) is a body of chants used in the liturgies of the Western Church. Though the Eastern Orthodox churches and the Western Church did not split until long after the origin of plainsong, Byzantine chants are generally not classified as plainsong. Plainsong is monophonic, consisting of a single, unaccompanied melodic line. Its rhythm is generally freer than the metered rhythm of later Western music.
plangent /ˈplan(d)ʒ(ə)nt/ adjective (of a sound) loud and resonant, with a mournful tone. “the plangent sound of a harpsichord”
Planisphere In astronomy, a planisphere is a star chart analog computing instrument in the form of two adjustable disks that rotate on a common pivot.
platen 1. the plate in a small letterpress printing press which presses the paper against the type. 2. the cylindrical roller in a typewriter against which the paper is held.	1979 by Val McDermid
pleroma- : the fullness of being of the divine life held in Gnosticism to comprise the aeons as well as the uncreated monad or dyad from which they have proceeded.
PLEUREUSE: paid mourner.
pneumostome – The pneumostome or breathing pore is a respiratory opening of the external body anatomy of an air-breathing land slug or land snai	Guardian article
Delonix regia is a species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae native to Madagascar. It is noted for its fern-like leaves and flamboyant display of orange-red flowers over summer. In many tropical parts of the world it is grown as an ornamental tree and in English it is given the name royal poinciana, flamboyant, phoenix flower,[citation needed] flame of the forest, or flame tree (one of several species given this name)	Bones of Coral p.222
A pomatum, based on a grease of some kind (usually lard), was used to style hair and to keep it smoothly in place, like today’s gels, mousses
Poplin, also called tabinet (or tabbinet),[1] is a fine, but thick, wool, cotton or silk fabric that has a vertical warp and a horizontal weft. Nowadays, it is a strong fabric in a plain weave of any fiber or blend, with crosswise ribs that typically gives a corded surface
Pomelo – a natural, non-hybrid, citrus fruit, native to Southeast Asia. … Similar in taste to a sweet grapefruit
Poronkusema = ‘a reindeer’s piss’ is an old distance measurement used in Lapland. Poronkusema is the distance a reindeer can run in one go without peeing. While running, a reindeer cannot pee. Poronkusema can be up to 7.5 kilometres.
Port cochere a covered entrance large enough for vehicles to pass through, typically opening into a courtyard.	A Wanted Man by Lee Child
postulant noun a candidate, especially one seeking admission into a religious order.	Orsinian Tales Ursula Le Guin
pother /ˈpɒðə/ noun a commotion or fuss. “what a pother you make!”	http://gaslight-lit.s3-website.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/gaslight/vandine.htm
Precatory means recommended, expected, or expressing a hope or wish. Precatory expressions are commonly used in wills and trust and are not binding.
In the biology of birds and mammals, altricial species are those in which the young are underdeveloped at the time of birth, but with the aid of their parents mature after birth. Precocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normally nidifugous, meaning that they leave the nest shortly after birth or hatching. These categories form a continuum, without distinct gaps between them.	10 Aug 2023
Predella a step or platform on which an altar is placed. a painting or sculpture on the front of a raised shelf above an altar, which typically forms the base for an altarpiece.	Levels of Life by Julian Barnes p11
prescind leave out of consideration. ”such traditionalists have prescinded from novel practices and attitudes” detach or separate from something. ”his is an idea entirely prescinded from all of the others”
Presstitute – “journalist” who will perform for cash. One of those clever terms that is now a little problematic, given that using the term “prostitute” as an insult reveals misogyny/puritanism [where’s the contempt for the pimps, or the system that makes selling your body the least worst option?]	in a Twitter thread about a truly offensive (female) Murdoch hack.
The preterite or preterit (/ˈprɛtərɪt/ PRET-ər-it; abbreviated PRET or PRT) is a grammatical tense or verb form serving to denote events that took place or were completed in the past; in some languages, such as Spanish, French, and English, it is equivalent to the simple past tense.
Primula (/ˈprɪmjʊlə/) is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. They include the primrose (P. vulgaris), a familiar wildflower of banks and verges
prosopography noun a description of a person’s social and family connections, career, etc., or a collection of such descriptions
“Protopia” is another recent term, coined by futurist Kevin Kelly and it is defined as the opposite of a “Dystopia”. In Dystopia, people are stuck in some kind of recurring pattern of suffering (like George Orwell’s “foot trampling a human face - for ever”, as in 1984). A Protopian society, then, is one where people are free from such gridlocks and can thus work actively to improve life. It’s a more carefully stated form of a dream of societal transformation: It doesn’t say that “everything will be good for everyone”; it focuses not on the state-of-things-at-a-given-moment, but on the possibility - the shared capacity - to move in mutually desirable directions. Simply stated, one could say that a Protopian society is one that has the capacity to become incrementally better as a result of the freedom of its members.
Portulaca oleracea (common purslane, also known as little hogweed, or pursley)[1] is an annual (actually tropical perennial in USDA growing zones 10–11) succulent in the family Portulacaceae.	twitter
Prelacy the government of the Christian Church by clerics of high social rank and power. the office or rank of a prelate. plural noun: prelacies
Provost BRITISH the head of certain university colleges, especially at Oxford or Cambridge, and public schools. 2. (in Scotland) the civic head of some regional Scottish councils, analogous to a mayor in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
A psalter is a volume containing the Book of Psalms, often with other devotional material bound in as well, such as a liturgical calendar and litany of the Saints. Until the emergence of the book of hours in the Late Middle Ages, psalters were the books most widely owned by wealthy lay persons.
Pseudopodia – temporary protrusions of the surface of an amoeboid cell for movement and feeding.
Psychophysics quantitatively investigates the relationship between physical stimuli and the sensations and perceptions they produce. Psychophysics has been described as “the scientific study of the relation between stimulus and sensation“[1] or, more completely, as “the analysis of perceptual processes by studying the effect on a subject’s experience or behaviour of systematically varying the properties of a stimulus along one or more physical dimensions”.[2]
Puncheon 1. : a pointed tool for piercing or for working on stone. 2. a. : a short upright framing timber.
Purl – to flow with curling or rippling motion, as a shallow stream does over ston	CL Boltz review of “man on the moon”, 1970
A Prusik (/ˈprʌsɪk/ PRUSS-ik) is a friction hitch or knot used to attach a loop of cord around a rope, applied in climbing, canyoneering, mountaineering, caving, rope rescue, ziplining, and by arborists. The term Prusik is a name for both the loops of cord used to tie the hitch and the hitch itself, and the verb is “to prusik” (using a Prusik to ascend).[1][2][3] More casually, the term is used for any friction hitch or device that can grab a rope (see autoblock). Due to the pronunciation, the word is often misspelled Prussik, Prussick, or Prussic.	Olivia Laing article in Observer
A psaltery (Greek: ψαλτήρι) (or sawtry, an archaic form) is a fretboard-less box zither (a simple chordophone) and is considered the archetype of the zither and dulcimer. Plucked keyboard instruments such as the harpsichord were also inspired by it. Its resonance box is usually trapezoidal, rectangular or in the form of a “pig’s head” and often richly decorated.
The ptarmigan is a gamebird, slightly larger than a grey partridge. In summer, it is a mixture of grey, brown and black above with white bellies and wings.
A pyroclastic flow is a hot (typically >800 °C, or >1,500 °F ), chaotic mixture of rock fragments, gas, and ash that travels rapidly (tens of meters per second) away from a volcanic vent or collapsing flow front. Pyroclastic flows can be extremely destructive and deadly because of their high temperature and mobility.
Pyromancy (Ancient Greek ἐμπυρία (empyria), divination by fire) is the art of divination by means of fire or flames. A candle’s flame. The word pyromancy is adapted from the Greek word pyromanteia, from pyr (πῦρ, fire) and manteia (μαντεία, divination by means of).
The Pythia (or Oracle of Delphi) was the priestess who held court at Pytho, the sanctuary of the Delphinians, a sanctuary dedicated to the Greek god Apollo. Pythia were highly regarded, for it was believed that she channeled prophecies from Apollo himself, while steeped in a dreamlike trance.
A quadrat is a frame used in ecology, geography, and biology to isolate a standard unit of area for study of the distribution of an item over a large area. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadrat
Qualtagh: noun the first person who crosses a threshold, especially after New Years Day. A bearer of good luck and fortune for the coming year. the first person one sees after leaving one’s house in the morning.
quodlibet (/ˈkwɒdlɪbɛt/; Latin for “whatever you wish” from quod, “what” and libet, “pleases”) is a musical composition that combines several different melodies—usually popular tunes—in counterpoint, and often in a light-hearted, humorous manner.
A ramekin is a small dish used for culinary purposes
Redfish is a common name for several species of fish.[1] It is most commonly applied to certain deep-sea rockfish in the genus Sebastes, red drum from the genus Sciaenops or the reef dwelling snappers in the genus Lutjanus. It is also applied to the slimeheads or roughies (family Trachichthyidae), and the alfonsinos (Berycidae).
refulgent /rɪˈfʌldʒ(ə)nt/ adjective LITERARY shining very brightly. “refulgent blue eyes”
regolith, a region of loose unconsolidated rock and dust that sits atop a layer of bedrock.
The Reichsadler (German pronunciation: [ˈra͜içs|aːdlɐ]; “Imperial Eagle”) is the heraldic eagle, derived from the Roman eagle standard, used by the Holy Roman Emperors and in modern coats of arms of Germany, including those of the Second German Empire (1871–1918), the Weimar Republic (1919–1933) and Nazi Germany (1933–1945).
Young people mock the implication that they are little more than a renkuang—a “human mine”—for the nation’s exploitation. As a subtle protest during college-commencement season, graduates took to posting pictures of themselves sprawled face down, or draped over railings, in a manner they named “zombie style.”	https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/10/30/chinas-age-of-malaise
Repoussage the art or process of hammering out or pressing thin metal from the reverse side.
reticule – a woman’s small handbag, typically having a drawstring and decorated with embroidery or beading	Nevil Shute, Pastoral
Retraux Media produced in an intentionally old-fashioned style, designed with the intentional appearance of being decades older than is actually the case. The term is a portmanteau of the Latin word “retro,” meaning “backwards” or “in the past,” and the French word “faux,”note  meaning “false.”
Retrotopia is a sociological journey into this bleak, fragmented world. In the place the old (often unfair and discriminatory) social institutions and mechanisms, pathologies are developing and growing to take truly dystopian measures. Humanity has not abandoned its aspirations, but it seems to have run out of faith in utopias located in the future, turning instead to the past, as if to turn back the clock which is, of course, not possible, for many reasons.
Revetment (especially in fortification) a retaining wall or facing of masonry or other material, supporting or protecting a rampart, wall, etc. a barricade of earth or sandbags set up to provide protection from blast or to prevent aircraft from overrunning when landing.
Rieurs who laughed loudly during comedies
Rille /ˈrɪl/[1] (German for ‘groove’) is typically used to describe any of the long, narrow depressions in the surface of the Moon that resemble channels. The Latin term is rima, plural rimae. Typically, a rille can be several kilometers wide and hundreds of kilometers in length.	The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield
Romantasy Romantasy is a genre of fiction, combining romance and fantasy. A key exponent is Sarah J Maas, known for her Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses. Sales of the genre are widely driven by promotion on social media, particularly the part of TikTok known as BookTok.
Roseate 1. rose-coloured. 2. optimistic or idealistic.
A roundel (not to be confused with the rondel) is a form of verse used in English language poetry devised by Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837–1909). It is the Anglo-Norman form corresponding to the French rondeau. It makes use of refrains, repeated according to a certain stylized pattern. A roundel consists of nine lines each having the same number of syllables, plus a refrain after the third line and after the last line. The refrain must be identical with the beginning of the first line: it may be a half-line, and rhymes with the second line. It has three stanzas and its rhyme scheme is as follows: A B A R ; B A B ; A B A R ; where R is the refrain.	29/7/23 – reading about Swinburne
A ruana (possibly from Spanish ruana “ragged” or Quechua ruana “textile”[1]) is a poncho-style outer garment native to the Colombian and Venezuelan Andes. In Colombia, the ruana is the characteristic and traditional garment of the department of Boyacá, initially made by indigenous and mestizo people, although it is also made in the departments of Cundinamarca, Antioquia, Nariño, Bogotá, Santander (Colombia), Norte de Santander and Caldas.
Rubatosis The unsettling awareness of your own heartbeat.
Rubicund  red or reddish; ruddy adjective. red or reddish; ruddy: a rubicund complexion.	(Gilbert, M. 1951. Death has Deep Roots, p. 174)
Ruched  In the sewing technique, ruching, a large number of increases are introduced in one row, which are then removed by decreases a few rows later. This produces many small vertical ripples in the fabric, effectively little pleats.	(Solar, Ian McEwan page 40)
rumint (uncountable) (US) Information of dubious veracity, particularly when grounded in rumor.
Runnel streamlet, rivulet
Rustication is a range of masonry techniques used in classical architecture giving visible surfaces a finish texture that contrasts with smooth, squared-block masonry called ashlar. The visible face of each individual block is cut back around the edges to make its size and placing very clear. In addition the central part of the face of each block may be given a deliberately rough or patterned surface.[1]
Sacring /ˈseɪkrɪŋ/ nounARCHAIC•HISTORICAL the consecration of a bishop, a sovereign, or the Eucharistic elements.
sacristan /ˈsakrɪst(ə)n/ noun 1. a person in charge of a sacristy and its contents.
A sally port is a secure, controlled entry way to an enclosure, e.g., a fortification or prison. The entrance is usually protected by some means, such as a fixed wall on the outside, parallel to the door, which must be circumvented to enter and prevents direct enemy fire from a distance.
Salwal Borrowed from Malay seluar (“pants”), from Persian شلوار‎ (šalvār, “pants”). Compare Bikol Central sarawal, and Pangasinan sanual.
Salwar or Shalwar is cloth worn from the waist to the ankles, covering both legs separately. It is the lower-garment of the Shalwar kameez suit which is
Samite a heavy fabric of silk, often woven with gold or silver threads, used in the Middle Ages for clothing.
A samovar (Russian: самовар, IPA: [səmɐˈvar] ⓘ, literally “self-brewer”) is a metal container traditionally used to heat and boil water. Although originating in Russia, the samovar is well known outside of Russia and has spread through Russian culture to other parts of Eastern Europe, as well as Western and Central and South Asia.
Samphire is a name given to a number of succulent salt-tolerant plants (halophytes) that tend to be associated with water bodies.
Sanguisuge – a leech, bloodsucking worm.
saprophyte is “an organism which gets its energy from dead and decaying organic matter.”
Sashimi (刺身, English: /səˈʃiːmi/ sə-SHEE-mee, Japanese: [saɕimiꜜ]) is a Japanese delicacy consisting of fresh raw fish or meat sliced into thin pieces and often eaten with soy sauce.[1]
Saturnalia Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival in honor of the deity Saturn, held on the 17th of December of the Julian calendar and later expanded with festivities through to the 23rd of December. The holiday was celebrated with a sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn, in the Roman Forum, and a public banquet, followed by private gift-giving, continual partying, and a carnival atmosphere that overturned Roman social norms: gambling was permitted, and masters provided table service for their slaves.[1] The poet Catullus called it “the best of days.”
Scapulimancy divination from the cracks in a burned animal shoulder blade, traditional among some North American hunting peoples.
Scilla is a genus of about 30 to 80 species of bulb-forming perennial herbaceous plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae.
Schlemiel (Yiddish: שלומיאל; sometimes spelled shlemiel or shlumiel) is a Yiddish term meaning “inept/incompetent person” or “fool”.[1] It is a common archetype in Jewish humor, and so-called “schlemiel jokes” depict the schlemiel falling into unfortunate situations.	e.g. Schlemiel (also rendered Shlemie) is told to paint the dotted lines down the middle of a road. Each day, Schlemiel paints less than he painted the day before, and complains that it is because each day he gets farther away from the paint can, and it takes him longer to go back and put paint on his brush.
Sclerosponges are a group of sea sponges that resemble hard corals, in that they produce a carbonate skeleton. But they grow at a much slower rate and can live for many hundreds of years.
Schmegegge  baloney; hot air; nonsense. synonyms: shmegegge. type of: bunk, hokum, meaninglessness, nonsense, nonsensicality. a message that seems to convey no meaning.
Today, this false idol justifies the bombing of every university in Gaza; the destruction of countless schools, of archives, of printing presses; the killing of hundreds of academics, of journalists, of poets – this is what Palestinians call scholasticide, the killing of the means of education. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/apr/24/zionism-seder-protest-new-york-gaza-israel
Sconce – A sconce is a type of light fixture that is fixed to a wall. The light is usually, but not always, directed upwards and outwards, rather than down. The sconce is a very old form of fixture, historically used with candles and oil lamps.
Scrim can refer to: Scrim (material), either of two types of material (a lightweight, translucent fabric or a coarse, heavy material) Scrim (lighting), a device used in lighting for films Scrim (internet slang), friendly match between teams and clans in various ladders, shorthand for: scrimmage.
scrimshaw, the decoration of bone or ivory objects, such as whale’s teeth or walrus tusks, with fanciful designs. The designs, executed by whale fishermen of American and Anglo-American origin, were carved with either a jackknife or a sail needle and then emphasized with black pigments, commonly lampblack.
Scrying, also referred to as “seeing” or “peeping,” is a practice rooted in divination and fortune-telling. It involves gazing into a medium, hoping to receive significant messages or visions that could offer personal guidance, prophecy, revelation, or inspiration.	(source – Laing, O. 2018. Crudo p.35)
scunnered. chiefly Scottish. as in annoyed. subjected to and reacting with irritation
Scuppernong The scuppernong is a large variety of muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia),[1] a species of grape native to the Southern United States. It is usually a greenish or bronze color and is similar in appearance and texture to a white grape, but rounder and larger and first known as the ‘big white grape’.[2] The grape is commonly known as the “scuplin” in some areas of the Deep South. It is also known as the “scufalum”, “scupanon”, “scupadine”, “scuppernine”, “scupnun”, or “scufadine” in some parts of the South. The scuppernong is the state fruit of North Carolina.[3]
scurf – flakes on the surface of the skin that form as fresh skin develops below, occurring especially as dandruff. a flaky deposit on a plant resulting from a fungal infection
SEAWRACK  seaweed or a growth of seaweed, especially of the larger kinds cast up on the shore
Secretin is a hormone that regulates water homeostasis throughout the body and influences the environment of the duodenum by regulating secretions in the stomach, pancreas, and liver. It is a peptide hormone produced in the S cells of the duodenum, which are located in the intestinal glands.[3] In humans, the secretin peptide is encoded by the SCT gene.[4]
Sefirot (/sfɪˈroʊt, ˈsfɪroʊt/; Hebrew: סְפִירוֹת, romanized: Səfīrōt, Tiberian: Săp̄īrōṯ),[1] meaning emanations, are the 10 attributes/emanations in Kabbalah,[2] through which Ein Sof (The Infinite) reveals itself and continuously creates both the physical realm and the chain of higher metaphysical realms (Seder hishtalshelus). The term is alternatively transliterated into English as sephirot/sephiroth, singular sefirah/sephirah, etc.
Sekt Sparkling Wine (German)
sepal/ˈsɛp(ə)l,ˈsiːp(ə)l/ noun BOTANY each of the parts of the calyx of a flower, enclosing the petals and typically green and leaflike.
Serried /ˈsɛrɪd/ Adjective (of rows of people or things) standing close together.
The serval (Leptailurus serval) is a wild cat native to Africa. It is widespread in sub-Saharan countries, except rainforest regions. Across its range, it occurs in protected areas, and hunting it is either prohibited or regulated in range countries.
Sesquipedalian– polysyllabic, long-winded
At the core of Sikhism lies the philosophy of selfless service, known as Sewa. Sewa is a principle that transcends religious boundaries and holds universal relevance. The philosophy encourages individuals to engage in acts of kindness, compassion and service without expecting anything in return. While deeply embedded in Sikh tradition, people of all backgrounds can adopt the principles of Sewa to enhance their day-to-day lives.
Sfumato (Italian: [sfuˈmaːto], English: /sfjuːˈmeɪtoʊ/) is a painting technique for softening the transition between colours, mimicking an area beyond what the human eye is focusing on, or the out-of-focus plane. It is one of the canonical painting modes of the Renaissance.	Novel Naked Ambition by Richard Gott.
Sgraffito is also the term for the decoration of the façades of buildings in the canton of Graubünden in south-eastern Switzerland, particularly in the Lower and Upper Engadine valleys, Bergell and Val Müstair. These designs – geometric patterns, rosettes, ribbons and mythological figures – may cover part or the whole of a façade, and surround doors and windows, corners etc. They are etched into the surface plaster by a knife or stylus so that the colour of a deeper layer shows through.
The Alosidae, or the shads,[1][2][3] are a family of clupeiform fishes. The family currently comprises four genera worldwide, and about 34 species
Sheitel is a wig worn by some Orthodox Jewish matrons in accordance with the tradition of covering the hair as a sign of modesty.	The Dyke and the Dybbuk
Shim noun a washer or thin strip of material used to align parts, make them fit, or reduce wear. “an aluminium shim reduces the diameter so that a standard stem will fit” Verb wedge (something) or fill up (a space) with a shim. “display monitors were shimmed up on cardboard”
shmoo (plural: shmoos, also shmoon) is a fictional cartoon creature created by Al Capp (1909–1979); the character first appeared in the comic strip Li’l Abner on August 31, 1948. The popular character has gone on to influence pop culture, language, geopolitics, human history, and even science.
Shondeh n. A scandal, shame. · n. Misbehavior by a Jew or Jewish group that leads to embarrassment among the broader Jewish community. · interj. (preceded by ‘a’) What a …
A shuriken (Japanese: 手裏剣, lit. ‘hand-hidden blade’) is a Japanese concealed weapon used by samurai or ninja or in martial arts as a hidden dagger or metsubushi to distract or misdirect. Five types of shuriken Edo period shuriken in Odawara Castle Museum, Japan.
A sifaka (/sɪˈfɑːkə/; Malagasy pronunciation: [ˈsifakə̥] ⓘ) is a lemur of the genus Propithecus from the family Indriidae within the order Primates. The name of their family is an onomatopoeia of their characteristic “shi-fak” alarm call.[4] Like all lemurs, they are found only on the island of Madagascar. All species of sifakas are threatened, ranging from endangered to critically endangered.[5]
sinter. / (ˈsɪntə) / noun. a whitish porous incrustation, usually consisting of silica, that is deposited from hot springs. the product of a sintering process.
Siskin: A small finch, this attractive species can often be found on nut-baskets, inviting confusion with Greenfinch. The male has a black bib and crown. Note also the streaks on the underparts and a yellow rump, tail-base and wing-bar in flight
Sisu, is a Finnish word that roughly translates as grit, determination, bravery and smarts.
Skewbald (of an animal, especially a horse) having large white and brown-coloured areas of hair on its body
A slingback is a type of woman’s footwear characterized by an ankle strap that crosses only around the back and sides of the ankle and heel, whereas a typical strap completely encircles the ankle all the way around it. It typically has a low vamp front similar to that of classic full shoe heels.
Slivovitz is a fruit spirit (or fruit brandy) made from damson plums, often referred to as plum spirit (or plum brandy)
Thyrsites atun (Euphrasén, 1791), known as the snoek in South Africa and as the barracouta in Australasia, is a long, thin species of snake mackerel found in the seas of the Southern Hemisphere, and a popular food fish in South Africa, particularly along the west and southwest coast.
A snood (/snuːd/) is a type of traditionally female headgear designed to hold the hair in a cloth or yarn bag
The term “snowclone” was coined by American linguists Geoffrey K. Pullum and Glen Whitman through a series of short columns published via Language Log.[14] The earliest known discussion about the term can be found in Pullum’s blog post titled “Phrases for Lazy Writers in Kit Form”[6] published in October 2003. In the article, Pullum asserted there has been a growing need of a descriptor for overused phrasal templates or journalism cliches: It now occurs to me that we also need a name for another linguistic figure, also noted by Mark but not yet named. Roughly speaking, the thing we need a name for is a multi-use, customizable, instantly recognizable, time-worn, quoted or misquoted phrase or sentence that can be used in an entirely open array of different jokey variants by lazy journalists and writers. On January 16th, 2004, Pellum wrote about his colleague Glen Whitman’s suggested neologism “snow clone,”[7] thus formally introducing the term to his readers for the first time. Soon thereafter, Pellum began tracking the history of widespread snow clones and documented his findings on his blog. https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/snowclone
sociolect /ˈsəʊʃ(ɪ)ə(ʊ)lɛkt,ˈsəʊsɪə(ʊ)lɛkt/ noun the dialect of a particular social class. ”In sociolinguistics, a sociolect is a form of language (non-standard dialect, restricted register) or a set of lexical items used by a socioeconomic class, profession, an age group, or other social group.”
Soffit A soffit is an exterior or interior architectural feature, generally the horizontal, aloft underside of any construction element. Its archetypal form, sometimes incorporating or implying the projection of beams, rafters or trusses over the exterior of supporting walls, is the underside of eaves (to connect a supporting wall to projecting edge(s) of the roof). The vertical band at the edge of the roof is called a fascia. A soffit of an arch is frequently called an intrados.
soigné /ˈswʌnjeɪ/ adjective dressed very elegantly; well groomed.
Soilage green fodder newly cut and fed to livestock
Sonder The realization that each passerby has a life as vivid and complex as your own.
Sonnenrad– The Black Sun (German: Schwarze Sonne) is a type of sun wheel (German: Sonnenrad)[1][2] symbol originating in Nazi Germany and later employed by neo-Nazis and other far-right individuals and groups. The symbol’s design consists of twelve radial sig runes, similar to the symbols employed by the SS in their logo
sonorant, in phonetics, any of the nasal, liquid, and glide consonants that are marked by a continuing resonant sound. Sonorants have more acoustic energy than other consonants. In English the sonorants are y, w, l, r, m, n, and ng. See also nasal; liquid.
“Spalling,” writes Vaillant, “is a verb you don’t encounter much below 500 degrees.” It’s what happens to concrete when all the water is burned out of it. What is spalling? Spalling is a term used to describe areas of concrete which have cracked and delaminated from the substrate. There are a number of reasons why spalling occurs including freeze thaw cycling, the expansive effects of Alkali Silica Reaction or exposure to fire. spall /spɔːl/ verb past tense: spalled; past participle: spalled break (ore, rock, or stone) into smaller pieces, especially in preparation for sorting. “the ore was spalled by young women seated at anvils” (of ore, rock, or stone) break off in fragments. “cracks below the surface cause slabs of material to spall off“	Guardian
Spavined affected with spavin = swelling especially : a bony enlargement of the hock of a horse associated with strain old and decrepit : OVER-THE-HILL
Titanite, or sphene (from Ancient Greek σφηνώ (sphēnṓ) ‘wedge’),[5] is a calcium titanium nesosilicate mineral, CaTiSiO5. Trace impurities of iron and aluminium are typically present. Also commonly present are rare earth metals including cerium and yttrium; calcium may be partly replaced by thorium
The Sphynx cat also known as the Canadian Sphynx, is a breed of cat known for its lack of fur.
Spinel is a mineral that owes its beautiful color to chromium, much like rubies and emeralds do. I	the wife, when i mentioned spinet
A spinet is a smaller type of harpsichord or other keyboard instrument, such as a piano or organ.	maud miller
Squalus is a genus of dogfish sharks in the family Squalidae. Commonly known as spurdogs, these sharks are characterized by smooth dorsal fin spines,
staith (plural staiths) (obsolete) A shore or a riverbank.From staith to staith. (Britain, dialect) A landing place; an elevated staging upon a wharf for discharging coal, etc., as from railway cars into vessels.
Stanchion noun an upright bar, post, or frame forming a support or barrier.
The stanhope was a gig, buggy, or light phaeton, typically having a high seat for one person and closed back. It was named after Captain Hon. Henry FitzRoy Stanhope (ca. 1754–1828, son of William Stanhope, 2nd Earl of Harrington), a well-known sportsman of his time and built by the London firm of Tilbury, coach builders in Mount Street.[1][2][3] (see Tilbury (carriage))
A stele (/ˈstiːli/ STEE-lee),[Note 1] or occasionally stela (plural stelas or stelæ), when derived from Latin, is a stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected in the ancient world as a monument. The surface of the stele often has text, ornamentation, or both. These may be inscribed, carved in relief, or painted.
In botany, a stipule is an outgrowth typically borne on both sides (sometimes on just one side) of the base of a leafstalk (the petiole). Stipules are considered part of the anatomy of the leaf of a typical flowering plant, although in many species they may be inconspicuous —or sometimes entirely absent, and the leaf is then termed exstipulate.
Stoup a basin for holy water, especially on the wall near the door of a Roman Catholic church for worshippers to dip their fingers in before crossing themselves. ARCHAIC a flagon or beaker for drink. “the jailer returned and left a stoup of water”	(Buchan, 1995 Heart’s Journey in Winter)
stravaig (third-person singular simple present stravaigs, present participle stravaiging, simple past and past participle stravaiged) (Scotland) to stroll, meander	(Gilbert, M. 1951. Death has Deep Roots, p. 40)
strophe /ˈstrəʊfi,ˈstrɒfi/ noun the first section of an ancient Greek choral ode or of one division of it. a group of lines forming a section of a lyric poem
subtend /səbˈtɛnd/ verb past tense: subtended; past participle: subtended 1. GEOMETRY (of a line, arc, or figure) form (an angle) at a particular point when straight lines from its extremities are joined at that point. “the angle subtended by a string of length r at the centre of the sphere” 2. BOTANY (of a bract) extend under (a flower) so as to support or enfold it. “the main beauty is provided by the bracts which subtend the flowers”
Surgency n. a personality trait marked by cheerfulness, responsiveness, spontaneity, and sociability but at a level below that of extraversion or mania. [defined by Raymond B. Cattell ] —surgent adj.	From here
Swale – a shady spot, or a sunken or marshy place. … In US usage in particular, it is a shallow channel with gently sloping sides.	Probably Lee Child’s “Past Tense”
Sward – an expanse of short grass. 2. FARMING
Syllepsis /sɪˈlɛpsɪs/ Noun a figure of speech in which a word is applied to two others of which it grammatically suits only one (e.g. neither they nor it is working ). another term for zeugma.
Synanthrope – A synanthrope (from the Greek σύν syn, “together with” + ἄνθρωπος anthropos, “man”) is a member of a species of wild animal or plant that lives near, and benefits from, an association with human beings and the somewhat artificial habitats that people create around themselves (see anthropophilia). Such habitats include houses, gardens, farms, roadsides and rubbish dumps.
Syringa is a genus of 12 currently recognized species of flowering woody plants in the olive family or Oleaceae[1] called lilacs. These lilacs are native to woodland and scrub from southeastern Europe to eastern Asia, and widely and commonly cultivated in temperate areas elsewhere
Tabinet (or tabbinet),[1] is a fine, but thick, wool, cotton or silk fabric that has a vertical warp and a horizontal weft.
As a stool, it refers to a short stool without a back or arms. The name is derived from its resemblance to a drum (diminutive of Old French tabour).[3][4] The tabouret acquired a more specialized meaning in 17th-century France at the court of Louis XIV in Versailles. Sitting in the presence of the royal family was a much coveted honor, and the tabouret was the way to do it. The court tabouret was an elaborate, upholstered stool with curved wooden legs and tassels, carried by a liveried and wigged servant. AND The current sense refers to graphic artists’ task furniture, a wheeled, portable stand or cabinet, with drawers and shelves for storage, used to bring supplies to a work area
A tachistoscope is a device that displays an image for a specific amount of time. It can be used to increase recognition speed, to show something too fast to be consciously recognized, or to test which elements of an image are memorable.
one I knew, but not precisely enough – Taffeta (archaically spelled taffety or taffata) is a crisp, smooth, plain woven fabric made from silk, nylon, cuprammonium rayons, acetate, or polyester. The word came into Middle English via Old French and Old Italian, which borrowed the Persian word tāfta (تافته), which means “silk” or “linen cloth
Taiko are a broad range of Japanese percussion instruments. In Japanese, the term taiko refers to any kind of drum, but outside Japan, it is used specifically to refer to any of the various Japanese drums called wadaiko and to the form of ensemble taiko drumming more specifically
Talion, principle developed in early Babylonian law and present in both biblical and early Roman law that criminals should receive as punishment precisely those injuries and damages they had inflicted upon their victims. Many early societies applied this “eye-for-an-eye” principle literally.
The tam is a millinery design for women based on the tam o’ shanter military cap and the beret. Sometimes it is also known as a tam cap or the traditional term tam o’shanter might also be used.[1]	Fieldwork by Maureen Moore
A tankini is a two-piece bathing suit that gives the illusion of a one piece.
A tantō (短刀, “short sword”) is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords (nihonto) that were worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan.
Tapenade (French pronunciation: [tapəˈnad]; Occitan: tapenada [tapeˈnadɔ]) is a Provençal[1] name for a spread, condiment and culinary ingredient consisting of puréed or finely chopped olives, capers, and sometimes anchovies.[2] Vegan versions that are available commercially do not contain anchovies. Tapenade’s name comes from the Provençal word for capers, tapenas (pronounced [taˈpenɔs]). It is a popular food in the south of France, where it is generally eaten as an hors d’œuvre spread on bread, with fish, in salads, and sometimes used to stuff poultry for the main course.
taradiddle /ˈtarəˌdɪd(ə)l/ nounINFORMAL•BRITISH noun: tarradiddle a petty lie. “no sane person would make up such a taradiddle” pretentious nonsense. “this taradiddle from him about his new radio show”	(Gilbert, M. 1951. Death has Deep Roots, p.187)
tares 1. a vetch, especially the common vetch. 2. (in biblical use) an injurious weed resembling corn when young
Tarpons are fish of the genus Megalops. They are the only members of the family Megalopidae. Of the two species, one (M. atlanticus) is native to the Atlantic, and the other (M. cyprinoides) to the Indo-Pacific Oceans.	Bones of Coral by James W. Hall, p.16
Taupe is a dark gray-brown color. The word derives from the French noun taupe meaning “mole”.	Lee Child, One Shot
Tazza (cup) (usually pronounced “tatza”, plural usually “tazze”), from the Italian, a wide shallow cup or bowl, usually on a tall stem
‘Tefillin’ is the name given to two black leather boxes (singular: ‘tefillah’) with straps which are put on by adult Jews for weekday morning prayers, and are worn on the forehead and upper arm. They are also called prayer boxes or phylacteries. The entire prayer box and straps are made from the skin of kosher animals.
tenebrous /ˈtɛnɪbrəs/ adjective LITERARY dark; shadowy or obscure.
In linguistics, a tenuis consonant (/ˈtɛn.juːɪs/ or /ˈtɛnuːɪs/)[2] is an obstruent that is voiceless, unaspirated and unglottalized. In other words, it has the “plain” phonation of [p, t, ts, tʃ, k] with a voice onset time close to zero (a zero-VOT consonant), as Spanish p, t, ch, k or English p, t, k after s (spy, sty, sky).
Teppanyaki (鉄板焼き, teppan-yaki), often confused with hibachi (火鉢, “fire bowl”),[1] is a post-World War II style[2] of Japanese cuisine that uses an iron griddle to cook food. The word teppanyaki is derived from teppan (鉄板), the metal plate on which it is cooked, and yaki (焼き), which means grilled, broiled, or pan-fried. In Japan, teppanyaki refers to dishes cooked using a teppan, including steak, shrimp, okonomiyaki, yakisoba and monjayaki.
A terp, also known as a wierde, woerd, warf, warft, werf, werve, wurt or værft, is an artificial dwelling mound found on the North European Plain that has been created to provide safe ground during storm surges, high tides and sea or river flooding.	via James Meek in LRB
Like many bird surveys the Atlas used the Ordnance Survey National Grid as a means of identifying locations of bird records. There are various scales of resolution, but for the Atlas we worked with 10-km squares and tetrads. A 10-km square as its name suggests is a square 10 km by 10 km. A tetrad (from the Greek tetras meaning four) on the other hand is a collection of four 1-km squares arranged into a 2 km by 2 km square. There are 25 tetrads within each 10-km square and these are labelled A to Z, excluding O (to avoid confusion with zero), from bottom left (SW) to top right (NE). The figure shows this diagrammatically. A tetrad is then given its full reference as the 10-km square code followed by the tetrad letter (e.g. TF73G). Read more detail on giving complete grid references. https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/birdatlas/methods/correct-grid-references
A thagomizer (/ˈθæɡəmaɪzər/) is the distinctive arrangement of four spikes on the tails of stegosaurian dinosaurs. These spikes are believed to have been a defensive measure against predators
and one of the earliest forms of animation. Using two illustrated sides of a disc, Thaumatropes create the illusion of motion that seemingly have drawings blend into one. (Aridjis, 2013;74)
Thaumaturgy is the purported capability of a magician to work magic or other paranormal events or a saint to perform miracles. It is sometimes translated into English as wonderworking.	Medford, D. (1969). The new thaumaturgy of governmental research and development? Futures, 1(6), 510–526. doi:10.1016/s0016-3287(69)80041-8
Theorbo – A large lute with an extended neck	FT crossword 2023 04 23
Thermokarst is an erosional process unique to permafrost with excess ice; it is defined as ‘the process by which characteristic landforms result from the thawing of ice-rich permafrost and/or melting of massive ice’ (van Everdingen, 1998).
Thumos (also commonly spelled ‘thymos’; Greek: θυμός) is the Ancient Greek concept of “spiritedness” (as in “a spirited stallion” or “spirited debate”). The word indicates a physical association with breath or blood and is also used to express the human desire for recognition. It is not a somatic feeling, as nausea and giddiness are.
A thurible (via Old French from Medieval Latin turibulum) is a metal censer suspended from chains, in which incense is burned during worship services. It is used in Christian churches, including the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Assyrian Church of the East and Oriental Orthodox, as well as in some Lutheran, Old Catholic, United Methodist, Reformed, Presbyterian Church USA, and Anglican churches (with its use almost universal amongst Anglo Catholic Anglican churches). In Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Anglican churches, the altar server who carries the thurible is called the thurifer. The practice is rooted in the earlier traditions of Judaism dating from the time of the Second Jewish Temple.[1]
Thurifer an acolyte carrying a censer in a religious ceremony.
Tilapia are mainly freshwater fish inhabiting shallow streams, ponds, rivers, and lakes, and less commonly found living in brackish water.
As a dish, a timbale is a “deep dish” filling completely enclosed in a crust. The crust can be sheet pastry, slices of bread, rice, even slices of vegetable.
Herbal teas, also known as herbal infusions and less commonly called tisanes (UK and US /tɪˈzæn/, US also /tɪˈzɑːn/), are beverages made from the infusion or decoction of herbs, spices, or other plant material in hot water; they do not usually contain any true tea
tmesis /ˈtmiːsɪs/ noun the separation of parts of a compound word by an intervening word or words, used mainly in informal speech for emphasis (e.g. can’t find it any-blooming-where	Thea Astley Drylands
toile /twɑːl/ noun 1. an early version of a finished garment made up in cheap material so that the design can be tested and perfected. 2. a translucent linen or cotton fabric, used for making clothes.	James Brady, Paris One
Tokay is the name of the wines from the Tokaj wine region (also Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region or Tokaj-Hegyalja) in Hungary or the adjoining Tokaj wine region in Slovakia. This region is noted for its sweet wines[1] made from grapes affected by noble rot, a style of wine which has a long history in this region. The “nectar” coming from the grapes of Tokaj is also mentioned in the national anthem of Hungary.
Tombolo – sandbar or spit	FT crossword 2023 02 04
Tontine is the name of an early system for raising capital where individuals pay into a common pool of money. In the U.S., tontines were popular in the 1700s and 1800s, then faded in the early 1900s.	Archer episode – The Double Deuce
A toque (/toʊk/[1] or /tɒk/) is a type of hat with a narrow brim or no brim at all.[2] Toques were popular from the 13th to the 16th century in Europe, especially France. The mode was revived in the 1930s. Now it is primarily known as the traditional headgear for professional cooks, except in Canada where the term toque is used for knit caps
A torc, also spelled torq or torque, is a large rigid or stiff neck ring in metal, made either as a single piece or from strands twisted together.
Tostada (/tɒˈstɑːdə/ or /toʊˈstɑːdə/; Spanish: [tosˈtaða], lit. ’toasted’) is the name given to various dishes in Mexico and other parts of Latin America which include a toasted tortilla as the main base of their preparation. The name usually refers to a flat or bowl-shaped tortilla that is deep-fried or toasted, but may also refer to any dish using a tostada as a base.[1] It can be consumed alone, or used as a base for other foods. Corn tortillas are usually used for tostadas, although tostadas made of wheat or other ingredients can also be found.	The Big Fix by Roger L Simon
totient (plural totients) (mathematics) The number of positive integers not greater than a specified integer that are relatively prime to it
Tourmaline (/ˈtʊərməlɪn, -ˌlin/ TOOR-mə-lin, -⁠leen) is a crystalline boron silicate mineral compounded with elements such as aluminium, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium. This gemstone can be found in a wide variety of colors.	Utz, p.71
Transom – Transoms are members that form horizontal divisions between units of a window, door, screen or glass curtain wall. Together with vertical members known as mullions they provide rigid support to glazing. The smaller window above a door or window can also be known as a transom window	Michael Connelly – “The Other Side of Goodbye”
Travertine (/ˈtrævərˌtiːn/[1] TRAV-ər-teen) is a form of terrestrial limestone deposited around mineral springs, especially hot springs. It often has a fibrous or concentric appearance and exists in white, tan, cream-colored, and rusty varieties
Trefoil– 1a : clover sense 1 broadly : any of several leguminous herbs (such as bird’s-foot trefoil) with leaves that have or appear to have three leaflets. b : a trifoliolate leaf. 2 : an ornament or symbol in the form of a stylized trifoliolate leaf.	Margaret Drabble The Ice Age
Tremolite forms by metamorphism of sediments rich in dolomite and quartz. Tremolite forms a series with actinolite and ferro-actinolite. Pure magnesium tremolite is creamy white, but the color grades to dark green with increasing iron content. It has a hardness on Mohs scale of 5 to 6
Tremolo In music, tremolo (Italian pronunciation: [ˈtrɛːmolo]), or tremolando ([tremoˈlando]), is a trembling effect. There are multiple types of tremolo: a rapid repetition of a note, an alternation between two different notes, or a variation in volume.
A trivet /ˈtrɪvɪt/ is an object placed between a serving dish or bowl, and a dining table, usually to protect the table from heat damage. Whilst tri- means three, and -vet comes from -ped, meaning ‘foot’ / ‘feet’, trivets often have four ‘feet’, and some trivets, including many wooden trivets, have no ‘feet’ at all. Trivet also refers to a tripod used to elevate pots from the coals of an open fire (the word trivet itself ultimately comes from Latin tripes meaning “tripod”). Metal trivets are often tripod-like structures with three legs to support the trivet horizontally to hold the dish or pot above the table surface.	Sarah Moss (2018) Ghost Wall.
trouvaille noun trou·​vaille trüˈvī plural-s : a lucky find : WINDFALL
Truite et bleu  – blue trout
Nader has coined the term “trustanoia” to describe the antonym of paranoia and the state of Americans’ feeling of trust of others. She contends that people in the United States trust that there is always someone there to take care of them, and that everyone (including legislators and politicians) acts in their interest.
Trypophobia refers to a strong fear of closely packed holes. People typically feel queasy, disgusted, and distressed when looking at surfaces …
Tryzub – The coat of arms of Ukraine is a blue shield with a golden trident. Officially referred to as the Emblem of the Royal State of Volodymyr the Great,[1] or, colloquially, the tryzub
Tsatskeleh in Yiddish is like my little doll. The -eleh ending is added to make a diminutive in Yiddish, so that first half could be your .
A tympanum (plural, tympana; from Greek and Latin words meaning “drum”) is the semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface over an entrance, door or window, which is bounded by a lintel and an arch.[1] It often contains pedimental sculpture or other imagery or ornaments.[2] Many architectural styles include this element.[3]
Tumefactive   producing swelling.
A  tumulus (plural tumuli) is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds or kurgans “Chuck points with his spoon at the tumulus of fruit, custard, jam, rum-soaked sponge cake, and whipped cream that has just appeared on the marble-topped table before him” Lurie, 1984: 69	Alison Lurie, Foreign Affairs p69
Tutelary – serving as a protector, guardian, or patron.
Twill is one of the three major types of textile weaves, along with satin and plain weaves. The distinguishing characteristic of the twill weave is a diagonal rib pattern. Twill weaves have a distinct, often darker colored front side (called the wale)
A tympanum (pl.: tympana; from Greek and Latin words meaning “drum”) is the semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface over an entrance, door or window, which is bounded by a lintel and an arch.[1] It often contains pedimental sculpture or other imagery or ornaments.[2] Many architectural styles include this element.[3] Alternatively, the tympanum may hold an inscription, or in modern times, a clock face
Typo-squatting, sometimes referred to as URL squatting or domain mimicry, is a sneaky internet technique in which malicious actors register domain addresses that are purposefully identical to well-known, reliable websites or domains.
Tzimmes, or tsimmes (Yiddish: צימעס, Hebrew: צִימֶעס), is a traditional Ashkenazi Jewish stew typically made from carrots and dried fruits such as prunes or raisins, often combined with other root vegetables (including yam).[1][2][3] Tzimmes is often part of the Rosh Hashanah meal, when it is traditional to eat sweet and honey-flavored dishes.[4] Some cooks add chunks of meat (usually beef flank or brisket).[1][3][5] The dish is cooked slowly over low heat and flavored with honey or sugar and sometimes cinnamon or other spices.[6] The name is a Yiddish word that, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, may come from Middle High German imbīz, ‘meal’.[7] “To make a big tzimmes over something” is a Yinglish expression that means to make a big fuss, perhaps because of the slicing, mixing, and stirring that go into the preparation of the dish.[5]
überfordert, the word he used to describe the police in 1981: “It means when the task you have is bigger than your capabilities – like Brexit.” [trans – overburdened]	https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/sep/24/ursula-herrmann-germany-kidnapping-mystery
Ukase – order from on high (in tsarist Russia) a decree with the force of law. “Tsar Alexander I issued his famous ukase unilaterally decreeing the North Pacific Coast Russian territory” an arbitrary or peremptory command. “he was defying the publisher in the very building from which he had issued his ukase”
Ullage or headspace is the unfilled space in a container, particularly with a liquid.[1]	The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield
In botany, an umbel is an inflorescence that consists of a number of short flower stalks (called pedicels) that spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs. The word was coined in botanical usage in the 1590s, from Latin umbella “parasol, sunshade”
umboliths –  navel stones – Compacted dirt, dead skin, sebum, clothing fibres and other debris.	https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/jan/02/how-clean-belly-button-dirty-risk-navel-stones-surgery
Do you wake up before dawn and feel anxious? That moment and experience is described by the Old English word uhtceare. Example: “On the morning of his surgery, he awoke with a severe case of uhtceare.”
vacuolated. adjective. formed into or containing one or more vacuoles or small membrane-bound cavities within a cell. synonyms: vacuolate
Vade mecum – guide book (“come with me”)
The Vajra is a legendary and ritualistic weapon, symbolizing the properties of a diamond (indestructibility) and a thunderbolt (irresistible force).
A valance sheet is a decorative bed linen that covers the underneath or base of your bed
varietal /vəˈrʌɪɪtl/ adjective 1. (of a wine or grape) made from or belonging to a single specified variety of grape. “the pure varietal character of the grape” 2. BOTANY•ZOOLOGY relating to or forming a variety. “varietal names”
Varves are defined as annual sediment layers and they can occur in many different environments. According to De Geer (1940) the term “varve” in English is derived from the Swedish term “varv”, (“hvarf” in its older spelling), for the cyclic clay deposits underlying the land surface of eastern Sweden.
Vatic – describing or predicting what will happen in the future.
Vatnik or vatnyk (Russian: ватник) is a political pejorative[1][2] used in Russia and other post-Soviet states for steadfast jingoistic followers of propaganda from the Russian government.[3]
Velars are consonants articulated with the back part of the tongue (the dorsum) against the soft palate, the back part of the roof of the mouth (also known as the “velum”). Since the velar region of the roof of the mouth is relatively extensive and the movements of the dorsum are not very precise, velars easily undergo assimilation, shifting their articulation back or to the front depending on the quality of adjacent vowels.[1] They often become automatically fronted, that is partly or completely palatal before a following front vowel, and retracted, that is partly or completely uvular before back vowels.
Vellichor The strange wistfulness of used bookshops.
Originating from the French word for velvet, velour is highly similar to velvet and velveteen. Unlike velvet, which is a pile weave fabric, velour is a pile knit fabric, which means that it is simpler to produce and slightly less sumptuous.
Vemödalen The frustration of photographing something amazing when thousands of identical photos already exist.
Verbotsgesetze is used to describe a tendency to pursue sustainability through all sort of bans and prohibitions (from gas boilers to controversial research on geoengineering).
Vermeil – Silver-gilt or gilded/gilt silver, sometimes known in American English by the French term vermeil, is silver (either pure or sterling) which has been gilded with gold. Most large objects made in goldsmithing that appear to be gold are actually silver-gilt; for example most sporting trophies (including medals such as the gold medals awarded in all Olympic Games after 1912[1]) and many crown jewels are silver-gilt objects.	Utz, p. 95
Virescent – greenish
Viverridae is a family of small to medium-sized, feliform mammals. The viverrids (/vaɪˈvɛrɪdz/) comprise 33 species placed in 14 genera. This family was named and first described by John Edward Gray in 1821.[3] Viverrids occur all over Africa, southern Europe, and South and Southeast Asia, across the Wallace Line.[
Voile is a lightweight, plain woven fabric usually made from 100% cotton or cotton blend. It has the higher thread count than most cotton fabrics. There is the apple-green silk voile she wore at her party…” Lurie, 1984, page 227	Alison Lurie, Foreign Affairs, p.227
The German word Vorfreude is unique and has no English equivalent. It comes from the words vor (“before”) and Freude (“joy”) and means something along the lines of “joyful anticipation.” Vorfreude is the joy you experience while you are looking forward to something. https://germanyinusa.com/2017/12/01/word-of-the-week-vorfreude/
Votary – devotee : a devoted admirer 2 a: a devout or zealous worshipper b a staunch believer or advocate 3 archaic : a sworn adherent
The Vulgate (/ˈvʌlɡeɪt, -ɡət/; also called Biblia Vulgata (Bible in common tongue), Latin: [ˈbɪbli.a wʊlˈɡaːta]), sometimes referred to as the Latin Vulgate, is a late-4th-century Latin translation of the Bible.
Wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri) is a scombrid fish found worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas. It is best known to sports fishermen, as its speed and high-quality flesh makes it a prized and valued game fish.
WALE is a streak or ridge made on the skin especially by the stroke of a whip : wel
Wangst, a portmanteau of “whiny” and “angst,” (or “wimpy” or “wah” or “whinging”… or possibly “wanker” or “wang” in especially irritating cases) is essentially angst gone wrong. The intended Woobie‘s Appeal to Pity ends in an epic failure, and thus becomes a pathetically whiny character who insists on crying (often loudly and repeatedly) about a Dark and Troubled Past instead of, you know, trying to move on with their life. This is made even more annoying when the character’s “trauma” doesn’t come across nearly as tragic as they seem to think it does, compared with other people out there trying to endure yet still determined to solve the problem, making the character’s lamentations seem way out of proportion.	from TV Tropes page on the topic
Wealthfare –  government policy designed to enrich further the already wealthy.  Financial aid, such as a subsidy or tax break, provided by a government to corporations or other businesses, especially when viewed as wasteful or unjust
wergild, (Old English: “man payment”), in ancient Germanic law, the amount of compensation paid by a person committing an offense to the injured party or, in case of death, to his family.
Whittawer noun 1 archaic : one who processes skins by tawing (as to form rawhide) 2 chiefly dialectal : a harness maker : SADDLER
The European bison (pl: bison) (Bison bonasus) or the European wood bison, also known as the wisent[a] (/ˈviːzənt/ or /ˈwiːzənt/), the zubr[b] (/zuːbər/), or sometimes colloquially as the European buffalo,[c] is a European species of bison.
Withal /wɪˈðɔːl/ ARCHAIC Adverb in addition; as a further factor or consideration. “the whole is light and portable, and ornamental withal”
The withers in horses are formed by the dorsal spinal processes of roughly the 3rd through 11th thoracic vertebrae, which are unusually long in this area.
A withy or withe (also willow and osier) is a strong flexible willow stem, typically used in thatching, basketmaking, gardening and for constructing woven wattle hurdles.[2][3][1] The term is also used to refer to any type of flexible rod of natural wood used in rural crafts such as hazel or ash created through coppicing or pollarding.	Sarah Moss (2018) Ghost Wall.
The wrasses are a family, Labridae, of marine fish, many of which are brightly colored. The family is large and diverse, with over 600 species in 81 genera
Old Wykehamists are former pupils of Winchester College, so called in memory of the school’s founder, William of Wykeham	From William Waldegrave’s autobiography (anecdote about Richard Crossman vs JK Galbraith at Harvard)
xiangsheng – Crosstalk, also known by its Chinese name xiangsheng (Simplified Chinese: 相声, Traditional Chinese: 相聲, pinyin: xiàngsheng, literally, “looking at each other and speaking”), is a traditional Chinese comedy form.[1] Crosstalk is a special kind of dialogue and a special kind of performance.[2] The comic language has many puns and allusions. The words are spoken in a fast, rushed manner. The comedy is a kind of banter.[2] According to Canadian crosstalk comedian Dashan (Mark Rowswell),[3] the closest equivalent in English would be Abbott and Costello‘s “Who’s on First?” sketch.	13 August 2023 – From book Traditional Comic Tales
Yichus (יִחוּס‎ yḥws), a Hebrew-based Yiddish word meaning “lineage”. In some past and present Jewish communities, good yichus – meaning descent from a family
Zeolites are minerals that contain mainly aluminum and silicon compounds. They are used as drying agents, in detergents, and in water and air purifiers. Zeolites are also marketed as dietary supplements to treat cancer, diarrhea, autism, herpes, and hangover, and to balance pH and remove heavy metals in the body.
Zhulik rogue
Zorbing (also known as globe-riding, sphereing, orbing) is the recreation or sport of rolling downhill inside an orb, typically made of transparent plastic.[1] Zorbing is generally performed on a gentle slope but can also be done on a level surface, permitting more rider control. In the absence of hills, some operators have constructed inflatable, wooden, or metal ramps. Due to the buoyant nature of the orbs, Zorbing can also be carried out on water, provided the orb is inflated properly and sealed once the rider is inside
The zucchetto or solideo, officially a pileolus, is a small, hemispherical, form-fitting ecclesiastical skullcap worn by clerics of various Catholic
Zwieback (German: [ˈt͡sviːbak] ⓘ) is a form of rusk eaten in Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Scandinavia, Serbia, Slovenia, Switzerland and Turkey. It is a type of crisp, sweetened bread, made with eggs and baked twice