Wordplay Wednesday™ June 3, 2015 – Irish 2-fer for Belfast Book Fest

It’s a 2-fer Wordplay Wednesday!

Since my primary online screen name, from the beginning of computer time, has been Irishwriter, I couldn’t help but celebrate next week’s Belfast Book Festival.

No, I have not had the good fortune to travel to the land of my ancestors … someday will come … if only in my dreams. But that has not stopped me from a healthy interest in Ireland and its many attributes, including its wonderful, lilting language and some of the best writers in the world.

This week’s Wordplay Wednesday celebrates Ireland’s contributions to our language with a 2-fer! A trip to Ireland for a 1) writing event, would of course, include 2) a wee bit o’ the Irish Whiskey …

1) poteen (Ireland; from póitín) – n. illicitly distilled whiskey [let’s call it what it is … hooch, bootleg] AND, where would you drink poteen? Why, here of course …

Swamped? Breathe … on Wordplay Wednesday™ May 27, 2015

Ahhhhh, breathe in the pure oxygen released by your ELODEA.

Oh, don’t have an aquarium with its green leaves swirling in the water for your fish – which are frantically trying to hide behind it from the pesky kid who keeps tapping the glass?

No matter – just head out to your nearest swamp to get the same effect on steroids (so to speak). Wellllll not exactly …

ELODEA – n. a swamp; any of a genus of submerged water plants of the frog’s-bit family w/whorls of short grass-like leaves – often used in aquariums as it releases large amounts of oxygen.

Have any grade-schoolers at home? Elodea is great for science experiments, too! Create a laboratory demonstration and document its cellular activities. A+!

However, there’s a dark side to the innocently swaying greenery …

Shrewing around on Wordplay Wednesday™ May 20, 2015

Shrewing around on Wordplay Wednesday™ May 20, 2015

Flushed with anger, eyes blazing like a crazed banshee, I lashed out with all the venom my virulent mind could concoct.

Yes. I admit. I have been called a shrew …but I know a more sedate and softer word for my inner Katherina …

VIRAGO – n. 1) quarrelsome, shrewish woman; 2) (archaic) strong, manlike woman; amazon

Vi-rah-go … doesn’t that sound better than the short and obdurate shrew? However, I discovered while researching that Webster’s Dictionary (College/print, 5^th Edition) and Wikipedia have decidedly disparate first definitions of the word. See what I mean ...

Make Magic on Wordplay Wednesday™ May 13, 2015

LATE Wordplay Wednesday – sorry ya-all. It’s one of those days when the Universe had its own schedule for me. But I have an earthy word for you that those in geology will likely know …

Many things – and people – are plain or even rough, on the outside; but if you’re patient, and lucky, you just might find one that holds a real, dazzling treasure on the inside.

Such is the life of a VUG (or vugh, vugg): n. cavity or hollow in a rock or lode, often lined with crystals.

A stunted, homely word with a dazzling, magical meaning, wouldn’t you agree? Some of you may be thinking, wait a sec, this sounds like a geode. Ah, the subtleties of nuance.

 

My understanding is the beauty of geodes is found in a more globular shape than the overall vugs. Both however, can hold the sparkling splendor of crystals. Enjoy.

'Til next time ... have a "wordful" week!

 

@PenchantForPen

@Irishwriter

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Wordplay Wednesday™ May 6, 2015 – with a Greek Twist

Do you take a ZARF with your coffee?

While it sounds like the bark of an overly excited dog, unless you hail from the Eastern Mediterranean you may not be clued in to the ZARF's true finger-saving definition.

ZARF: n. small metal holder, used in the Levant (Eastern Mediterranean region, i.e., Greece, Turkey) to hold a cup of hot coffee.

Steeped in ancient history, we’ve often seen ornate metal holders for coffee cups, in formal settings (for tea, as well); but it also applies to the cardboard cone that embraces Styrofoam cups at your local coffee shop.

Now you know what to call the once nameless “thingy” that saves your fingers from burning as you hurry to work with your favorite steaming beverage. So do you enjoy gourmet coffees? You'll LUV Briki Coffee House ...