Page 9 - Scene Magazine 46-04 April 2021

Scene Around Town
BY PETER PHELPS
we probably turned to old standbys like ‘bored’ games and crossword puzzles.
One of my elementary school teach- ers avoided calling my writing ‘griffon- age’ in lieu of comparing it to ‘chicken scratches.’ Sadly neither of those words can improve the appearance of my long- hand no matter how hard I tried.
Those got me to thinking about every-day things and how they got their names. So, with thanks and apolo-
gies to Merriam-Webster, this column will share a few examples of those ‘thingies,’ ‘doohickies,’ and ‘watch- chamacallits’ that actually have modest monikers.
Since many of us have a difficult time getting out of bed in the morning, you might want to know that that time is referred to as ‘dysania,’ and that sand that we rub from our eyes is ‘gound,’ and that dab of toothpaste is ‘nurdle.’
Did you know that there is actually
a name for those little plastic covers on the ends of your shoelaces? They are call ‘aglets.’ I hope that doesn’t tie you up in knots trying to remember that one. Or you could just wear loafers or mules and slide by.
For example, crossword puzzle pundits who resort to little-used but big-sounding words are called ‘cruciv- erbalists.’ That answer would require 15 empty boxes to complete for 26 across.
On the way to work, we might stop and get a ‘Cup of Joe.’ That’s another term for coffee named after the Secre- tary of the U.S. Navy, Admiral Josephus ‘Joe’ Daniels, who abolished alcohol on Navy ships.
For those who might imbibe, the foam (head) on a beer is called ‘barm.’ If you drink too much beer with barm, you become ‘gambrinous.’
Let me pause for a moment to
say that I wouldn’t recommend you try memorizing the following, but it wouldn’t hurt that if one or two really appeal to you, that you write them down, stash them away, with the idea that you might drag them out at the appropriate time to amaze or even amuse your friends with your vast knowledge.
Heaven forbid should the baristas forget, just ask them for a ‘zarf.’ That’s the little cardboard sleeve placed around the hot cup so you won’t burn your fingers.
Finally did you know that the pound (#) sign on your handy-dandy cellular phone is called an ‘octothorpe?’ Press the octothorpe after you enter your number.
Words have power ... if you don’t put too many of them together.
This past year’s ‘lock-down’ has forced many of us to shelter in place with not much to do. Since we were limited on how we could be ‘Scene Around Town,’
by a cold is nothing to sneeze about.
It is called a ‘meldrop.’ Speaking of the body, that part of your back between your shoulder blades that you cannot reach to scratch unless you rub against the door frame, is ‘acnestis.’
Here are a couple more words that you might find interesting. That dab of moisture at the end of your nose created
Enough said? Perhaps too much, but as my grandfather used to opine, “A word to the wise is sufficient.” Come on, smile; you don’t want to be an ‘agelast’ do you?
Be well.
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