September 27 2011
Chamber Potshots
Doctor Samuel Johnson was a giant among lexicographers, creating his Dictionary of the English Language in 1755, as my next Wordplay column celebrates. But the verbal whiz wasn’t averse to taking cheap shots when the mood was right. Fishing, for example, he defined “a stick and string, with a worm at one end and a fool at the other.”
While the oat was recorded as being “a grain which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people.” Ouch.
In the same naughty tradition, the Chambers has slipped a few gibes and gags into their own database. A sea serpent, say, citing the 1901 edition is “an enormous marine animal of serpent-like form frequently seen and described by credulous sailors, imaginative landsmen and common liars”.
Or a babysitter, according to the 1952 release: “one who mounts guard over a baby to relieve the usual attendant”.
That’s your challenge, people. Choose any common word or phrase, classic or contemporary, that starts with any letter found in CHAMBERS. Using irony, archness, bile, guile, provide a definition for your selection. The best will avoid blatant bashing of the subject, and opt for more wile, wit and snidery.
Come deadline on Thursday 8pm, submit your best CHAMBERS cluster, one word for each letter, and I’ll compile the premium glossary by the weekend, with a Dictionary Diadem to our cheekiest lexicographer. Go forth and define.
Comments
Criseyde — 27 September at 09:39AM
Chambers. Bog-awful reading matter for the po-faced.
Ennui — 27 September at 09:49AM
Surely this is more than pure coincidence - this brainstorm and today's Brendan in the Guardian? (cue in Twilight Zone theme music)
JD — 27 September at 09:50AM
Oops, haven't changed my alias yet.
RobT — 27 September at 10:41AM
Masterchef contestant: minimum wage-yearner.
Em — 27 September at 11:04AM
Southern Cross: (astronomy) southern constellation, known for inspiring patriotism, rebellion against greed and dictatorship, and glorious works of 21st century body art.
RobT — 27 September at 11:08AM
Television - a medium intended to exhort fat people to exercise, but only between ad breaks.
Em — 27 September at 11:15AM
Cryptomnesia: a word I just made up. It's never been thought of before, certainly not on this blog. Wait...
RobT — 27 September at 11:25AM
Cruciverbalist: A pent-up wordsmith desperately trying to find a way out of solitary confinement by silently brandishing a pen licence.
RobT — 27 September at 11:35AM
Mistress: A lady encouraged to leave her hair dishevelled.
RobT — 27 September at 11:53AM
Hack: Newspaperman who really knows how to get into things.
RobT — 27 September at 11:56AM
Angler: A guy who sits alone for hours thinking of one that might yet get away.
RobT — 27 September at 03:32PM
Echo: Someone else's doing, barely kept. In otherwords, plagiarism to the mach.
Em — 27 September at 04:30PM
Awesome: a word formerly meaning 'that which inspires awe' or 'characterised by awe'. Now means 'pretty good', 'not bad', or 'that which doesn't inspire outright disgust'. ------ For more evidence of recent semantic broadening, see 'hero' and 'tragedy'.
RobT — 27 September at 04:41PM
Rugby: A bifurcational sport splitting heads, fans (and also sides where hopping marsupials are involved).
RobT — 27 September at 04:52PM
Rugby: A bifurcational sport splitting codes, heads, fans and also sides (where hopping marsupials are involved).
RobT — 27 September at 08:59PM
Brainiac: A person unable to tie up his own shoelaces, because he is wearing sandals.
RobT — 27 September at 09:11PM
My set:
Cruciverbalist: A pent-up wordsmith desperately trying to find a way out of sty by silently brandishing a ‘pen’ licence.
Hack: Newspaperman who really knew how to get into things until recent days.
Angler: A guy who sits alone for hours dreaming of the one that might yet get away.
Mistress: A lady encouraged to get her long hair dishevelled.
Brainiac: A person unable to tie up his own shoelaces because he is wearing sandals.
Echo: Someone else's doing, barely kept. In otherwords, plagiarism to the mach.
Rugby: A bifurcational sport splitting codes, heads, continents, fans and also sides (where hopping marsupials are involved).
Sudoku: 36% short of Nirvana, like Grohl/Novoselic.
JPR — 27 September at 09:47PM
Cryptomnesia: a word I just made up. It's never been thought of before, certainly not on this blog. Wait...
Criseyde — 27 September at 09:49PM
Brainstorm: NZ Warriors' haka chant. Melbourne. September 2011.
Manly: Derivative of gentlemanly (archaic). Pejorative. Testosterone rich group of 13. (Semantic connotations to be revised. +/- Trans Tasman effect.)
Criseyde — 27 September at 10:20PM
Aftershock: Unilateral devastation resulting from tectonic rift between Australia and New Zealand.
Criseyde — 27 September at 10:33PM
Haka: Corruption of Assange's 'mate'.
Criseyde — 27 September at 10:46PM
Storm: Dissipation of ineffectual energy.
ML — 27 September at 11:56PM
"How are you" - Australian phrase which translates as "I acknowledge your presence". Should never, under any circumstances, be replied to with the actual way a person is feeling.
Em — 28 September at 08:42AM
JPR, I'm still laughing. Gold.
Sam — 28 September at 11:34AM
C: Comfit – Molecular gastronomist’s comfort food
H: Hellebore – Bureaucratic process
A: Ack-ack – Spontaneous audience response in Melbourne over the winter months
M: Mohair – The florescence of facial hair towards the end of November
B: Boobook – Lobbyist for the electronic book industry
E: Edwardian – Period of time associated with the popularity of the Twilight series
R: Résumé – List of probable or potential achievements or qualifications
S: Steerage – Live cattle export trade
Em — 28 September at 11:43AM
Hallowe'en: American holiday loudly ridiculed by Australians as they purchase fake cobwebs, ghost costumes, cackling witch toys and 'candy'. ------ For more evidence of Australian holiday hypocrisy, see 'St Valentine's Day'.
RobT — 28 September at 07:35PM
Clockwatcher: Useless dude who should keep his third hand off it.
RobT — 28 September at 07:36PM
...I added that in with 24 mins to go.
Em — 28 September at 11:09PM
Blues: footballers (Australian Rules) who play for the Carlton Football Club; members and supporters of that same club; the feeling felt by those described above at 8.30pm WST on 17 September, 2011
Em — 29 September at 11:23AM
My submissions grouped together:
Cryptomnesia: a word I just made up. It's never been thought of before, certainly not on this blog. Wait...
Hallowe'en: American holiday loudly ridiculed by Australians as they purchase fake cobwebs, ghost costumes, cackling witch toys and 'candy'. ------ For more evidence of Australian holiday hypocrisy, see 'St Valentine's Day'
Awesome: a word formerly meaning 'that which inspires awe' or 'characterised by awe'. Now means 'pretty good', 'not bad', or 'that which doesn't inspire outright disgust'. ------ For more evidence of recent semantic broadening, see 'hero' and 'tragedy'.
My bad: The sincerest of apologies offered upon recognition of a grievous misdeed.
Blues: footballers (Australian Rules) who play for the Carlton Football Club; members and supporters of that same club; the feeling felt by those described above at 8.30pm WST on 17 September, 2011
Emily: Pure, shining genius the likes of which the universe has never before seen. Synonyms: awesome (former meaning), deluded.
Rudd, Kevin: former Prime Minister of Australia; current Minister for Foreign Affairs; current preferred Prime Minister; living proof that Australians love an underdog and have short memories.
Southern Cross: (astronomy) southern constellation, known for inspiring patriotism, rebellion against greed and dictatorship, and glorious works of 21st century body art.
LR — 29 September at 08:26PM
I wasn't able to complete a full list but here are a few.
Agnostic: One who claims that God only knows whether He exists or not.
Earwax: The edible sticky secretion which lines the inner ear of Kevin Rudd.
Retirement: The brief interval between making a living and not living.
okra — 30 September at 04:29PM
Liberalism: a political and philospohical movement which believes in the sanctity of liberty and equal rights without the irritating baggage of responsibility
okra — 30 September at 04:38PM
football: (1) the ball used in a game of the same name in which two opposing teams kick it around to please oil barons (2) a refugee used in the game of politics in which two opposing teams kick it around to please the lowest common denominator