Word/phrase of the day

Charmonium

Diamond Member

May 15, 2015

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• Apr 16, 2022

• #1

My contribution for today is "demarche" mellows.

a demarche in this context is a formal diplomatic communication. But their nickname at the the State Dept. is as above for partly obvious reasons but also because these sorts of communications are known for being of little practical effect.

editor's note: This is the sign of a good nickname. It's not just a clever mixing of syllables but the thing it references is in someway comparable to nickname itself. Antonyms also work.

 

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BoomerD

No Lifer

Feb 26, 2006

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• Apr 16, 2022

• #2

I went on de marche with a 90 lb pack and load out. My feet got soar.

 

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Charmonium

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• May 13, 2024

• #3

brittunculi

Brittunculi

Been watching a lot of documentaries lately - my preferred genre. This is a made up word used by Roman soldiers near what would become Hadrian's wall.

 

Charmonium

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May 15, 2015

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• May 29, 2024

• #4

calumny

the making of false and defamatory statements about someone in order to damage their reputation; slander.
"a bitter struggle marked by calumny and litigation"

 

Charmonium

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May 15, 2015

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• May 29, 2024

• #5

truculent

eager or quick to argue or fight; aggressively defiant.
"his days of truculent defiance were over"

 

Charmonium

Diamond Member

May 15, 2015

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• May 30, 2024

• #6

pillory

1
: a device formerly used for publicly punishing offenders consisting of a wooden frame with holes in which the head and hands can be locked
2
: a means for exposing one to public scorn or ridicule

 

sdifox

No Lifer

Sep 30, 2005

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• May 30, 2024

• #7

Word of the Day: Dynasty

Dynasty has had quite the run in English. For over 600 years it’s been used to refer to a ruling family that maintains power generation after generation. At the time dynasty was first used in English,

www.merriam-webster.com

No need to thank me.

 

Charmonium

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May 15, 2015

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• May 30, 2024

• #8

I wonder if 'griftocracy' has been coined yet.

 

MrSquished

Lifer

Jan 14, 2013

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• May 30, 2024

• #9

I think today's word of the day is actually 'guilty'

 

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Charmonium

Diamond Member

May 15, 2015

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• May 30, 2024

• #10

Charmonium said:

I wonder if 'griftocracy' has been coined yet.

Click to expand...

Hmm, "kleptocracy" probably covers it but it doesn't have quite the same aroma (connotation)

 

Charmonium

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May 15, 2015

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• Jun 1, 2024

• #11

abjure

solemnly renounce (a belief, cause, or claim).
"his refusal to abjure the Catholic faith"

 

Charmonium

Diamond Member

May 15, 2015

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• Jun 8, 2024

• #12

trenchant

 

G

Greenman

Lifer

Oct 15, 1999

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• Jun 9, 2024

• #13

Charmonium said:

pillory

1
: a device formerly used for publicly punishing offenders consisting of a wooden frame with holes in which the head and hands can be locked
2
: a means for exposing one to public scorn or ridicule

View attachment 100030

Click to expand...

We built a pillory in high school wood shop, set it on the lawn outside the shop. The school district wasn't amused and made us screw the two halves together. We were just starting to design our full scale catapult when they brought that to a halt. Seems they were keeping an eye on us.
It was annoying that they always pulled the plug on the fun projects and didn't say a word when we remolded the bathrooms or built an addition on the principles office.

 

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Charmonium

Diamond Member

May 15, 2015

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• Jun 9, 2024

• #14

Greenman said:

We built a pillory in high school wood shop, set it on the lawn outside the shop. The school district wasn't amused and made us screw the two halves together. We were just starting to design our full scale catapult when they brought that to a halt. Seems they were keeping an eye on us.
It was annoying that they always pulled the plug on the fun projects and didn't say a word when we remolded the bathrooms or built an addition on the principles office.

Click to expand...

Wow, can you imagine what a blast a functional trebuchet would have been.

My HS did do 10ft tall bonfires though. Had to a couple tons of scrap wood, pallets and so on. I remember on night they did one and it was raining. I wore a cheap plastic poncho and started to droop if I got to close to the fire.

 

G

Greenman

Lifer

Oct 15, 1999

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• Jun 10, 2024

• #15

Apparently weapons and torture devices of any type are a no no in school, even back in the 70's. Another interesting thing about that high school was that the auto shop teacher was a Hells Angel, and quite open about it.

 

Charmonium

Diamond Member

May 15, 2015

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• Jun 18, 2024

• #16

myrmidon

a follower or subordinate of a powerful person, typically one who is unscrupulous or carries out orders unquestioningly.
"one of Hitler's myrmidons"

It originally meant a fierce Thessalian warrior such as followed Achilles to Troy. So it's sort of interesting how it evolved. Damn Troian (Trojan) fanbois