Wiktionary:Word of the day/Archive/2016/December

2016
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1

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snowdrop n

Any of the 20 species of the genus Galanthus of the Amaryllidaceae, bulbous flowering plants, bearing a solitary, pendulous, white, bell-shaped flower that appears, depending on species, between autumn and late winter or early spring, all native to temperate Eurasia.

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2

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houndstooth n

A two-colour fabric pattern of broken checks. Fabric with a houndstooth pattern; an item of clothing made with such fabric. Today is one of two National Mutt Days in the United States, a commemoration created by animal welfare advocate Colleen Paige to celebrate mixed breed dogs. (The other is July 31.)

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3

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telemark n

(uncountable, skiing) Telemark skiing, a method of skiing using the telemark turn and a binding that only connects the boot to the ski at the toes. (countable, skiing) A telemark turn.

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4

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dude n

(colloquial) A man, generally a younger man. (colloquial, used in the vocative) A term of address for a teenager or young man, particularly when cautioning him or offering him advice. An inexperienced cowboy. (slang) A tourist. (archaic) A man who is very concerned about his dress and appearance; a dandy, a fop. American actor, singer and producer Jeff Bridges, who played Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski in the 1998 film The Big Lebowski, was born on this day in 1949.

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5

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ulterior adj

Situated beyond, or on the farther side. Beyond what is obvious or evident. Being intentionally concealed so as to deceive. (archaic) Happening later; subsequent.

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6

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them's the facts phrase

(idiomatic, colloquial) Those are the facts, that's the truth, that's how it is. The first “number”, or part, of the Encyclopædia Britannica was published in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, on this day in 1768.

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7

8

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tankie n

(communism, slang, historical, British) A member of the Communist Party of Great Britain who slavishly agreed with the Soviet Union's policy of crushing revolts in Hungary in the 1950s and Czechoslovakia in the 1960s by sending army tanks into these countries. (communism, slang, derogatory, by extension) A person acting as an apologist for the brutal policies of Joseph Stalin (1878–1953), the leader of the Soviet Union. (military slang) A soldier from a tank regiment. (rail transport, slang) A tank engine.

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9

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hit point n

(chiefly roleplaying games) A unit of damage, used to specify the amount of damage a character can withstand before it is defeated. (computer graphics) In ray tracing, the point in a scene at which a ray strikes an object.

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10

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clomp v

(transitive) To make a clomping sound (with some object). (intransitive) To move in a way that makes loud noises with one's feet. (intransitive, rare) To walk with wooden shoes. To mark Koninkrijksdag (Kingdom Day; 15 December), which commemorates the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, we are featuring a series of words of Dutch origin.

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11

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hedge sermon n

(Christianity, historical) An open-air religious service held by Calvinists in the Low Countries during the Reformation, typically in rural areas beyond the reach of civic authorities. To mark Koninkrijksdag (Kingdom Day; 15 December), which commemorates the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, we are featuring a series of words of Dutch origin.

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12

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cockalorum n

A menial, yet self-important person; a person who makes empty boasts. Boastful speech, crowing. A game similar to leapfrog. To mark Koninkrijksdag (Kingdom Day; 15 December), which commemorates the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, we are featuring a series of words of Dutch origin.

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13

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feague v

To increase the liveliness of a horse by inserting an irritant, such as a piece of peeled raw ginger or a live eel, in its fundament. (obsolete) To beat or whip; to drive. (obsolete) To subject to some harmful scheme; to ‘do in’. […] To mark Koninkrijksdag (Kingdom Day; 15 December), which commemorates the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, we are featuring a series of words of Dutch origin.

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14

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handlanger n

(South Africa) An unskilled assistant to an artisan. (South Africa, figuratively) An aide, an assistant. To mark Koninkrijksdag (Kingdom Day; 15 December), which commemorates the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, we are featuring a series of words of Dutch origin.

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15

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stroopwafel n

A Dutch waffle made from two thin wafers with syrup in between. To mark Koninkrijksdag (Kingdom Day; 15 December), which commemorates the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, we are featuring a series of words of Dutch origin.

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16

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middelmannetjie n

A ridge between ruts made by wheels in a dirt or gravel road. To mark Koninkrijksdag (Kingdom Day; 15 December), which commemorates the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, we are featuring a series of words of Dutch origin. Today is also the Day of Reconciliation in South Africa.

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17

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keelhaul v

(transitive, nautical) To punish by dragging under the keel of a ship. (transitive) To rebuke harshly. To mark Koninkrijksdag (Kingdom Day; 15 December), which commemorates the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, we are featuring a series of words of Dutch origin.

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18

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patroon n

(US) One of the landowning Dutch grandees of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, especially after it became a British possession renamed as New York. To mark Koninkrijksdag (Kingdom Day; 15 December), which commemorates the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, we are featuring a series of words of Dutch origin.

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19

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humbug interj

(slang) Balderdash!, nonsense!, rubbish! Charles Dickens’ novella A Christmas Carol, featuring the character Ebenezer Scrooge who hates Christmas and calls it a “humbug”, was first published on this day in 1843.

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20

21

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glitten n

A cross between a glove and a mitten, often in the form of a fingerless glove with an attached mitten-like flap that can be used to cover the fingers. The winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere falls on this day in 2016.

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22

23

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aweless adj

Without fear; fearless, unafraid. Wanting reverence; void of respectful fear; irreverent. (obsolete) Inspiring no awe.

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24

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sommelier n

The member of staff at a restaurant who keeps the wine cellar and advises guests on a choice of wines; a wine steward, a wine waiter. Enjoy your Christmas Eve party!

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25

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Christingle n

(Christianity) A small Christmas gift for children symbolizing Jesus Christ as the “light” of the world. A typical modern Christingle is made of an orange with sweets skewered into it, a candle inserted into the top, and a red ribbon wrapped round it. (Christianity) A church service for children incorporating Christingles, usually held during Advent. Merry Christmas from all of us at the Wiktionary!

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26

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29

30

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underfire v

(transitive, intransitive) To heat from below. (transitive) To intentionally operate a boiler, furnace, oven, etc., at a low level. (intransitive) To burn fuel at less than the desired level, thus not providing heat efficiently. (transitive, ceramics) To fire at a low (or excessively low) temperature.

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31

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fireworks n

[…] (plural only) An event or a display where fireworks are set off. (plural only, figuratively) A boisterous or violent event or situation. Happy New Year’s Eve from all of us at the Wiktionary!

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