I think it may have actually been coined by the Simpsons, making it one of several words from the show that have wound up entering the language ("d'oh", "cromulent", "embiggen", "unpossible", and Nelson's laugh). Has anybody heard it in a source earlier than that?
Is anybody aware of "tiny" meaning something in gang slang? I was looking at that bizarre list from the FBI of all the known gangs active in the United States, and I kept seeing things like "Tiny Papi Squad" and "Tiny Rascal Gangsters" (and others I didn't write down because they weren't so bizarre)--often enough that it seems like it must mean something.
This word was coined on the series "Will & Grace" by the character Jack during a game of Scrabble. He claimed it was a synonym for "spritz", saying that when he got up every morning he "spramped" his face with water.
As we see from the quotes, though, there is another definition; it's some sort of amorphous, arhythmic music played mostly on rock instruments, I think. I've heard some of Captain Beefheart's stuff described with it. Based on the word, you can probably guess what it sounds like.
For most of my life I pronounced it "ta-BUR-na-cull" and "DEB-a-cull" and didn't believe people when they corrected me with "TA-bur-NACK-l" and "duh-BAHK-l".
If you want to see a hideous, hideous picture of one, take a look at Wikipedia. The term is a corruption for 'jeune d'Anvers', or 'young girl from Antwerp', but I can't figure out why they would call this that, unless Antwerp girls were TERRIFYINGLY HIDEOUS.
Not actual words, but thanks to a company that makes them in the shapes of sports equipment, the store where I work occasionally calls them "snow drives," "skate drives," and "surf drives."
I found this awesome word on World Wide Words, and he says it goes back at least to 1992. No real record of its inception exists, but I'm guessing it's just a sniglet meaning "nitpicky, minute, pointless" such as "I want to add just one nitnoid detail" or "I like Facebook but people keep adding these stupid nitnoid comments like 'LOL' and 'OMG me too!'"
Durvin commented on the word yogibogeybox
A word coined by James Joyce, meaning the apparatus used by a spiritualist.
Jan 23, 2013
Durvin commented on the list states-of-mind-from-absurdistan-to-zion
Suggestion: Ubekibekibekistanstan.
Dec 28, 2012
Durvin commented on the word yoink
I think it may have actually been coined by the Simpsons, making it one of several words from the show that have wound up entering the language ("d'oh", "cromulent", "embiggen", "unpossible", and Nelson's laugh). Has anybody heard it in a source earlier than that?
Dec 4, 2012
Durvin commented on the word tiny
Is anybody aware of "tiny" meaning something in gang slang? I was looking at that bizarre list from the FBI of all the known gangs active in the United States, and I kept seeing things like "Tiny Papi Squad" and "Tiny Rascal Gangsters" (and others I didn't write down because they weren't so bizarre)--often enough that it seems like it must mean something.
Oct 2, 2012
Durvin commented on the word honey bucket
This may have been a term of endearment at some point, but as it is also a brand name of portable toilets, users may want to consider another.
May 13, 2012
Durvin commented on the word spramp
This word was coined on the series "Will & Grace" by the character Jack during a game of Scrabble. He claimed it was a synonym for "spritz", saying that when he got up every morning he "spramped" his face with water.
May 13, 2012
Durvin commented on the word homina-homina
An interjection used to indicate a dazed state, often due to viewing an especially attractive person.
Mar 23, 2012
Durvin commented on the word squonk
As we see from the quotes, though, there is another definition; it's some sort of amorphous, arhythmic music played mostly on rock instruments, I think. I've heard some of Captain Beefheart's stuff described with it. Based on the word, you can probably guess what it sounds like.
Mar 7, 2012
Durvin commented on the word urpflanze
"ur" meaning original, primal, and "pflanze" meaning plant.
Oct 6, 2010
Durvin commented on the list awkward-sounding-words
For most of my life I pronounced it "ta-BUR-na-cull" and "DEB-a-cull" and didn't believe people when they corrected me with "TA-bur-NACK-l" and "duh-BAHK-l".
Oct 6, 2010
Durvin commented on the word jenny haniver
If you want to see a hideous, hideous picture of one, take a look at Wikipedia. The term is a corruption for 'jeune d'Anvers', or 'young girl from Antwerp', but I can't figure out why they would call this that, unless Antwerp girls were TERRIFYINGLY HIDEOUS.
Oct 6, 2010
Durvin commented on the list usb-flash-thumb-memory-drive-key-disk-sticks
Not actual words, but thanks to a company that makes them in the shapes of sports equipment, the store where I work occasionally calls them "snow drives," "skate drives," and "surf drives."
Oct 6, 2010
Durvin commented on the word gadzooks
I had always heard the 'hooks' were just old slang for 'hands.'
Oct 6, 2010
Durvin commented on the word spooniness
I'm just glad to see there's a reason why one of the Final Fantasy games translated an insult as "you spoony bard!"
Aug 22, 2010
Durvin commented on the word nitnoid
I found this awesome word on World Wide Words, and he says it goes back at least to 1992. No real record of its inception exists, but I'm guessing it's just a sniglet meaning "nitpicky, minute, pointless" such as "I want to add just one nitnoid detail" or "I like Facebook but people keep adding these stupid nitnoid comments like 'LOL' and 'OMG me too!'"
Aug 22, 2010