Word of the Day

[MissBubu]

bour·don   [boor-dn, bawr-, bohr-]

–noun Music. 1. a. the drone pipe of a bagpipe. 
b. the drone string of a stringed instrument. 

2. a low-pitched tone; bass. 
3. a pipe organ stop of very low pitch. 
4. the bell in a carillon having the lowest pitch. 


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[Origin: 1350–1400; ME < MF; see burden2]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006

The bourdon of the pipers vibrated through her soul.

[MissBubu]

Dwale

Dwale\, n. [OE. dwale, dwole, deception, deadly nightshade, AS. dwala, dwola, error, doubt; akin to E. dull. See Dull, a.]

1. (Bot.) The deadly nightshade (Atropa Belladonna), having stupefying qualities.

2. (Her.) The tincture sable or black when blazoned according to the fantastic system in which plants are substituted for the tinctures.

3. A sleeping potion; an opiate. --Chaucer.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

The distraught maiden had to resort to taking a dwale each night.

[MissBubu]

Pintle 

/?p?ntl/ –noun
1. a pin or bolt, esp. one on which something turns, as the gudgeon of a hinge. 
2. a pin, bolt, or hook by which a gun or the like is attached to the rear of a towing vehicle. 
3. a cast iron or steel base for a wooden post, often cast in a single piece with a cap for a lower post. 


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[Origin: bef. 1100; ME pintel penis, OE; c. ODan pintel]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

The pintle in the top hinge had broken, causing the door to sag.

[MissBubu]

Swarf   

/sw?rf/ –noun

an accumulation of fine particles of metal or abrasive cut or ground from work by a machine tool or grinder. 


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[Origin: 1560–70; < ON svarf, akin to sverfa to file, or continuing OE geswearf, gesweorf]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

The smithy was surrounded by swarf after a hard day's work.

[MissBubu]

Valgus   

/?vælg?s/ [val-guhs]
–noun 1. an abnormally turned position of a part of the bone structure of a human being, esp. of the leg. 
–adjective 2. of or in such a position; bowlegged, knock-kneed, or the like. 


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[Origin: 1790–1800; < L: knock-kneed]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

After spending numerous hours on the joust field, the valgus knight had troubles walking straight.

[MissBubu]

Abderian

Ab*de"ri*an\,

a. [From Abdera, a town in Thrace, of which place Democritus, the Laughing Philosopher, was a native.] Given to laughter; inclined to foolish or incessant merriment.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

Copious amounts of mead added to the abderian mood of the group.

[MissBubu]

Amphigory   

[am-fi-gawr-ee, -gohr-ee] 
–noun, plural -ries. a meaningless or nonsensical piece of writing, esp. one intended as a parody. 

Also, amphigouri.


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[Origin: 1800–10; < F amphigouri, equiv. to amphi- amphi- + gouri; perh. modeled on F equiv. of phantasmagoria]

—Related forms
am·phi·gor·ic   Audio Help   /?æmf??g?r?k, -?g?r-/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[am-fuh-gawr-ik, -gor-] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

The irreverent bard was a master of amphigory, at the expense of the King.

[MissBubu]

Saulie

Sau"lie\,
n. A hired mourner at a funeral. [Scot.] --Sir W. Scott.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

The undertaker always had a group of saulies on hand for his less popular customers.

[MissBubu]

Abligurition

Ab*lig`u*ri"tion\, n. [L. abligurito, fr. abligurire to spend in luxurious indulgence; ab + ligurire to be lickerish, dainty, fr. lingere to lick.]
Prodigal expense for food. [Obs.] --Bailey.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

With the abligurition of edibles at some faires, I had to buy a bigger pouch to hold the necessary coinage.

[MissBubu]

Farctate

Farc"tate\,
a. [L. farctus, p. p. of farcire. See Farce, v. t.] (Bot.) Stuffed; filled solid; as, a farctate leaf, stem, or pericarp; -- opposed to tubular or hollow. [Obs.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

I was completely farctate after eating the pie, mash and liquor at WIRF.

[MissBubu]

hisbid

- ( )
  Having stubble or being unshaven

http://www.islandnet.com/~egbird/dict/h.htm

The rogue's face always had the hisbid appearance of someone who woke up somewhere too far from his razor.

[MissBubu]

Rasorial

[ruh-sawr-ee-uhl, -sohr-] 
–adjective 1. given to scratching the ground for food, as chickens; gallinaceous. 
2. pertaining to a bird's foot adapted for scratching. 


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[Origin: 1830–40; < NL Rasor(es) former name of the order, LL r?sorés, pl. of r?sor scratcher (L r?d(ere) to scrape, scratch + -tor -tor, with dt > s; cf. raze) + -ial]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.


The rasorial peasants looked like a flock of chickens as they searched for food after the noble's feast.

[Baron Doune]

Miss B, I just love your posts!  Thank you.

[MissBubu]

Miss B, I just love your posts!  Thank you.

It's been fun trying to find something different each time.

[MissBubu]

Panjandrum

[pan-jan-druhm] –noun

A self-important or pretentious official. 


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[Origin: 1745–55; pseudo-Latin word (based on pan-) coined by Samuel Foote (1720–77), English dramatist and actor]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

The most notable panjandrum at the faire must be the Lord High Sheriff.