American Heritage Dictionary - ven·tu·ri Audio Help (věn-t�?�?r'ē) Pronunciation Key n. pl. ven·tu·ris
1. A short tube with a constricted throat used to determine fluid pressures and velocities by measurement of differential pressures generated at the throat as a fluid traverses the tube. 2. A constricted throat in the air passage of a carburetor, causing a reduction in pressure that results in fuel vapor being drawn out of the carburetor bowl.
(n) : a carved panel; the flat upper part of a ship's stern above the transom, often decorated with carvings
"Yet we should oftener look over the tafferel of our craft, like curious passengers, and not make the voyage like stupid sailors picking oakum." (H.D. Thoreau, Walden).
Ok, let's be brave!! from the online etymological dictionary:
1762, "to massage," from Anglo-Indian shampoo, from Hindi champo, imperative of champna "to press, knead the muscles," perhaps from Skt. capayati "pounds, kneads." Meaning "wash the hair" first recorded 1860; extended 1954 to carpets, upholstery, etc. The noun meaning "soap for shampooing" first recorded 1866.
"pledged to total abstinence from intoxicating drink," 1834, possibly formed from total with a reduplication of the initial T- for emphasis (T-totally "totally," not in an abstinence sense, is recorded in Kentucky dialect from 1832 and is possibly older in Irish-Eng.). The use in temperance jargon was first noted Sept. 1833 in a speech advocating total abstinence (from beer as well as wine and liquor) by Richard "Dicky" Turner, a working-man from Preston, England. Also said to have been introduced in 1827 in a New York temperance society which recorded a T after the signature of those who had pledged total abstinence, but contemporary evidence for this is wanting, and Webster (1847) calls teetotaler "a cant word formed in England."
cgrimm commented on the word venturi
American Heritage Dictionary -
ven·tu·ri Audio Help (věn-t�?�?r'ē) Pronunciation Key n. pl. ven·tu·ris
1. A short tube with a constricted throat used to determine fluid pressures and velocities by measurement of differential pressures generated at the throat as a fluid traverses the tube.
2. A constricted throat in the air passage of a carburetor, causing a reduction in pressure that results in fuel vapor being drawn out of the carburetor bowl.
After Giovanni Battista Venturi (1746-1822), Italian physicist.
May 5, 2008
cgrimm commented on the word tafferel
(n) : a carved panel; the flat upper part of a ship's stern above the transom, often decorated with carvings
"Yet we should oftener look over the tafferel of our craft, like curious passengers, and not make the voyage like stupid sailors picking oakum." (H.D. Thoreau, Walden).
Apr 30, 2008
cgrimm commented on the word janjaweed
http://www.slate.com/id/2104210/
Apr 28, 2008
cgrimm commented on the word sepulchre
"Our age is retrospective. It builds sepulchres of the fathers." (R.W.Emerson, Introduction to Nature)
Mar 17, 2008
cgrimm commented on the word shampoo
Ok, let's be brave!!
from the online etymological dictionary:
1762, "to massage," from Anglo-Indian shampoo, from Hindi champo, imperative of champna "to press, knead the muscles," perhaps from Skt. capayati "pounds, kneads." Meaning "wash the hair" first recorded 1860; extended 1954 to carpets, upholstery, etc. The noun meaning "soap for shampooing" first recorded 1866.
Mar 6, 2008
cgrimm commented on the word lackluster
not shiny not bright...dull eeeh boring?
Mar 6, 2008
cgrimm commented on the word flibbertigibbet
nice word!
Feb 29, 2008
cgrimm commented on the word teetotaller
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=teetotal&searchmode=none
"pledged to total abstinence from intoxicating drink," 1834, possibly formed from total with a reduplication of the initial T- for emphasis (T-totally "totally," not in an abstinence sense, is recorded in Kentucky dialect from 1832 and is possibly older in Irish-Eng.). The use in temperance jargon was first noted Sept. 1833 in a speech advocating total abstinence (from beer as well as wine and liquor) by Richard "Dicky" Turner, a working-man from Preston, England. Also said to have been introduced in 1827 in a New York temperance society which recorded a T after the signature of those who had pledged total abstinence, but contemporary evidence for this is wanting, and Webster (1847) calls teetotaler "a cant word formed in England."
Feb 29, 2008
cgrimm commented on the word die tarnung
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarnung_(Biologie)
Feb 22, 2008
cgrimm commented on the word groves of academe
The title of a novel by Mary McCarthy
Feb 19, 2008
cgrimm commented on the word possierlich
sounds old fashioned, would your average German still use it today?
Feb 18, 2008