Welcome back, one and all. The world keeps turning, Susie Dent continues to delight, and I have another Words of the Week! Today I have decided to be designedly silly with the words I have to share.
Pandiculation (noun): Many of us pandiculate each morning, throughout the day, or just whenever we’re in that place between tired and awake. Pandiculation is the act of stretching and yawning at the same time. Now that you know the word, will you find yourself noticing when you pandiculate? Has my mention of pandiculation unintentionally caused the pandiculating of my readership? Who knows? Probably you!
Crambazzled (adj. – Yorkshire): Gee Sofie, I hear you cry, how silly could this possibly get, if ‘crambazzled’ is only number two on this list?! And to that I reply… just you wait (or not; you could just go look at the final word on today’s list; I can’t stop you). To be crambazzled is not simply to be drunk–no that’s not intense enough. When one is crambazzled they are prematurely aged by excessive drinking (and other dissolute behavior). If you drink, be careful that you don’t wind up crambazzled, because it is far from a good thing. It is a fun word to say though. Crambazzled.
Mumpsimus (noun – 16th century): ‘Mumpsimus’ isn’t necessarily a political term, although political figures often are mumpsimuses. It simply means ‘one who is obstinately insisting their (often unreasonable or obsolete) ideas are right, despite the definite evidence that they are not.’ Mumpsimus doesn’t only describe people; it can also refer to those unreasonable or obsolete ideas that are evidently outdated.
Humdudgeon (noun – Scottish, 18th century): I’m not accusing anyone in particular of having the humdudgeon in order to get out of school, but I certainly know at least one of you must have. Humdudgeon is that imaginary illness that prevents one from accomplishing their responsibilities. “Oh woe is me, I’ve such a humdudgeon and positively cannot go to school this day!”
Whangdoodle (noun – American, 19th century): Another word with two very similar meanings, and the one I find the silliest. The first definition would be an imaginary creature, particularly a bizarre or humourous one. And the other is poppycock! Quite literally. Poppycock is a synonym of whangdoodle, and that phrase without context is sure to raise some eyebrows. For those who don’t know what poppycock is, stuff and nonsense is an easy definition.
Toodles, children! And see you next time with another Words of the Week!
Thank you very much for the glorious words! Well done and greatly appreciated!
Ohhh fun words!!