“Zoomies” And Other Peculiar Animal Behavior

by Kevin Burton    As a baseball fanatic growing up I learned that a bunt is a purposely short hit, made to surprise the defense or to move the runners along.     Leave it to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, as it defines the strange things animals sometimes do,  to teach me that “bunt” has another meaning and …

Happy Names For Our Feathered Friends

by Kevin Burton    I recall in certain mornings at the Ohio State School for the Blind, listening to birds singing, in the moments before I had to get up and get the day started.    I would think that if I could endure a few easy classes, I would then have the rest of …

Conquering Mathematics By Definition

by Kevin Burton    Fear not, dear reader. Easy does it. This won’t hurt a bit.    For your attention today we bring terms and definitions from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary for elements of mathematics. But there will be no test.    Or, if you consider it a test, you are auditing this one. Take from …

Bolster Your Vocabulary With Creative Insults!

by Kevin Burton    I know I shouldn’t be doing this. But here’s my excuse up front: The dictionary made me do it!    There is more than enough bad blood, ill manners, insincerity and name calling to go around these days. Nevertheless, Merriam-Webster dictionary provides you today with entirely new and creative ways to …

OK Then, Let’s Get This Word Party Started!

by Kevin Burton    I believe it was the great Marty Brennaman, on the Cincinnati Reds radio network, who used to call the first game of a three-game series the “lid-lifter.”     Let’s tack that one on, at the very beginning mind you, like the first pitch in the top of the first inning, to …

Getaway Day, Glorious Beyond (These) Words

by Kevin Burton    It takes a little work to make a vacation happen doesn’t it? You don’t just up and go.    You have to make sure everything is taken care of. Animals, if you have them. The homestead. Plus you have to arrange for accommodations on the road.    But there comes a …

Interesting But Hard-To-Play Scrabble Words

by Kevin Burton     As usual, Dictionary Scoop has an interesting list today. But this one has next to no value.    It’s a list of the biggest, bangiest Scrabble words. The words that if successfully deployed, would bring the highest scores.    But your chances of ever having these exact letters on your board …

Plant Names That Sound Like Insults

by Kevin Burton    If you’re not good at gardening, you can say that you have a “brown thumb.” You can say it, I won’t.    Yes the antonym of “green thumb” which speaks to people who are good at gardening is “brown thumb.” But that sounds much worse than it needs to, so I’ll …

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

by Kevin Burton    Apologies right up front for all you lawn rangers, fighting the good fight for greener, pristiner front yards. Merriam-Webster calls the dandelion a flower.    And I supposed by some measures it is. But don’t try giving your wife dandelions on your anniversary. You may end up with dandelion soup for …

Words For Cats’ Eyes, Bad Hair, Plenty More

by Kevin Burton    Merriam-Webster dictionary took to social media to ask readers to identify some of their favorite underrated words. Yesterday we posted some of these words and today we finish their list.    This may be the weirdest list I’ve ever posted. Some of these words don’t strike me as particularly useful. Others …