There’s a Word for That

Did you know that there is a word, a name, for everything?  I know this, because Google told me.  Is that possible?  I’m not sure.  On one hand, it makes sense, and on the other hand, there seem to be so many things, common, everyday things, for which we just don’t know the word.

You know that little thing that you stick in the side of your computer so that your wireless mouse works?  Did you know that it is called a dongle?  I don’t think I like that word.  I believe I’m going to just keep calling it that little thing that you stick in the side of your computer so that your wireless mouse works.  And you know what?  I’m guessing more people will know what I mean when I say that, than if I happen to mention that I lost my dongle.

I was telling my brother the topic of my latest musings and he said, “Oh yeah.  I frequently don’t know the name of the thing I need and so I have to describe it to the guy at the hardware store.”  Oh my gosh!  So true.  Much like car mechanics, those poor folks working at the hardware store must have to interpret all kinds of interesting descriptions.  Although if you think about it, employees that have to decipher customer descriptions may be a bigger group of folks than you might originally imagine.  Now that I’m thinking about it, this probably happens in craft and hobby stores, auto parts shops, bakeries, etc.  In fact, one time when I was at the bookstore, I heard someone describing a book he was looking for, to an employee.  “The cover is blue and has a moon on it.  I think it has the word dangerous in the title.”

As I often do when I’m pondering the wonders of the universe, I begin with an internet search… ‘things people don’t know the name of’.  This led me to a handy list from Buzzfeed.  58 Everyday Things You Never Knew Had Names.  I thought there were some good examples (lunule – the white crescent shaped part of your fingernail), some that were obvious (tines – the prongs on a fork.  Do people really not know this one?), and some that I think were made up (nurdle – a tiny dab of toothpaste).  Nurdle sounds like somebody’s answer in a game of Balderdash AND is not recognized as a word by Merriam Webster. 

Balderdash.  Now that’s a fun word (meaning, quite simply, nonsense) and a fun game.  Do you know it?  It’s a favorite in our family.  You can buy it as a board game, but really all you need is a dictionary.  Each person takes a turn sharing an unfamiliar word with the rest of the players.  All the players write down the definition of the word (if they know it) or make up a definition for the word if they don’t know it.  Points are awarded to those who knew the definition of the obscure word, and also to those that came up with the most creative and believable made-up answers.

Haberdashery is another fun word (men’s clothing and accessories), but I don’t have much of an occasion to use it.  My mom was a regular user of the word flabbergasted to describe a situation where she was astounded or astonished, but I prefer the synonym gobsmacked.  I have a friend that, tired of the over use of the word guy, was trying to single-handedly bring back the use of the word fellow.  Try it out.  “That fellow at the front of the line sure is taking his time,” or “Check out that fellow’s tattoo.” I like it. I’m trying to help her out by using it when I think of it. I hope it catches on.

My favorite words need no introduction.  Wouldn’t life be simpler if all the words we use described themselves.  Pepper shaker.  Windshield wiper.  Fly swatter.  Coffee Grinder. Toothbrush. Rib spreader.  Ouch!  On that thought, I suppose there are some words which you don’t want to describe themselves.  Medical procedures and equipment come to mind. Go ahead, think of some medical procedure you don’t want to have done, and then imagine your doctor explaining it using words that describe themselves.  Ugh!

So I’ve selected a few words for consideration this week.

• Scurryfunge: the time you run around cleaning frantically right before company comes over.
  • A common occurrence at my house.  I’m sure I’ll have use for it eventually, and it seems like a fun one to say.
•  Interrobang: when you combine a question mark with an exclamation point like this: ?!
  • This one is great!  And I love to do this, so I’ll have to figure out how to work this word into a conversation at work.  Also, as a side note, one of my previous coworkers hated when people did this, which made me do it more.
• Zarf: the cardboard sleeve on a coffee cup.
  • Zarf?  Really?   Hmmm.
• Phosphenes: the lights you see when you close your eyes and press your hands to them.
  • I used to love to do this when I was a kid.  Fun to know they have a name.
• Glabella: the space between your eyebrows.
  • Kind of a fun word, but I will definitely forget it before I find the opportunity to use it.
• Wamble: stomach rumbling.
  • Unnecessary.  Why would we need wamble when we already have rumble?!
• Phloem bundles: those long stringy things you see when peeling a banana.
  • Will probably pass on using this one.  I don’t love bananas in the first place, and this could put me off of them for good.

Do you have a fun word you like you use?  Hit me in the comments and have a great week!