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Quiz: Odd Words

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Test Your Vocabulary

I love words; especially quirky words or those with obscure or entertaining meanings. In this little word quiz (I plan to do others), I've selected two handfuls of terms for things I didn't even know had names. The word AGLET, which isn't included in the quiz because it has become a fairly standard trivia and crossword answer (it's the little plastic thingy at the tip of the shoelace that keeps the lace from fraying), is an example of the types of words included. See how many you know (or can guess!). Think of it this way -- every one you get wrong is a new piece of knowledge gained. So a score of zero just means you will potentially learn 10 new things. Win-win.

Odd Words: Test Your Vocabulary

See what your score is, then challenge a friend.

“JARNS, NITTLES, GRAWLIX, QUIMP: Various squiggles used to denote cussing in comic books.”

Specific Names of Animal Excrement

Ewww...

CASTS: earthworms
DUNG: cattle
FEWMETS: deer (also, in fantasy literature, dragons)
GUANO: bats or sea birds
FRASS: caterpillars
SCAT: wild carnivores
SPRAINTS: otter

The Venery Game

This wonderful book explores the intriguing and entertaining venereal game: the naming of groups of animals, people, and things. Commonly known terms include pride of lions, string of ponies, gaggle of geese, and school of fish. Some less common and fun ones (of which there are many) include: WYSIWYG of computer programs, trajectory of astronauts, fumble of checkgrabbers.

I'd like to propose: TENTACLEs OF SQUIDOOERS or perhaps .A LENS OF SQUIDOOERS Vote for your preference in the poll below -- or add your own suggestion!
An Exaltation of Larks: The Ultimate Edition

An Exaltation of Larks: The Ultimate Edition

by: James Lipton

Amazon Price: $6.35 (as of 06/05/2012)Buy Now

Fascinating choices and categories -- many of which are clearly commentary -- are entertaining to read and are thought-provoking as well. Many of the terms are illustrated with lively line drawings. This reat source of word trivia includes rules for venereal activities and games. You needn't be afraid to share these with friends. Venery is a hunting term and venereal, in this context, has nothing whatsoever to do with those horrid films shown in health class.

Venery Name for Squidooers

In the review above, I present James Lipton's classic: An Exaltation of Larks, which presents the group names for an astonishing array of items/animals/people (from recognized terms like a swarm of bees and a plague of locusts to the more fanciful a pratfall of clowns and a doldrum of reruns.

In honor of Squidoo, I am proposing two possible terms for a group of Squidooers. Vote for your favorite or add a suggestion(s) of your own.

1

Vote Up
Vote Down

Tentacle of Squidooers

5 points

2

Vote Up
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Lens of Squidooers

2 points

3

Vote Up
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Tangle of Squidooers

2 points

4

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Web of Squidooers

1 point

5

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School of Squidooers

1 point

Another Word Challenge

Ready to try another vocabulary quiz? Here you go!

26-Letter Word

urban-dictionary-word

zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcba

The sound you make when you vomit alphabetti spaghetti
from The Urban Dictionary

52-Letter Word


Aequeosalinocalcalinosetaceoaluminosocupreovitriolic
Word coined by Dr. Edward Strother to describe the spa waters at Bath, England.

Superior People

Humorous and useful little volume entertainingly presents words and their correct usage (and some useful applications, as well). An example:

ALOPECIA n. Baldness. The Superior Person should always be alert to the potential value of medical terms when properly used in lay conversation ... Thus: "My husband's alopecia is very bad this morning, Mr. Purbright; I'm afraid I may not be able to get in to the office before about eleven o'clock."

The Superior Person's Book of Words

The Superior Person's Book of Words

by: Peter Bowler

Amazon Price: $2.87 (as of 06/05/2012)Buy Now

Funny and fun, this book is a perfect gift for a word lover, er, LOGOPHILE.

A Few Word Games

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Use Your Words

How did you fare on the quiz? Too difficult? Not challenging enough?

  • rauspitz Feb 26, 2012 @ 3:02 pm | delete
    I did terrible but it was till fun.
  • MareeT Jan 31, 2012 @ 2:27 pm | delete
    I didn't do all that well but had a great time!
  • Tipi Jan 31, 2012 @ 12:34 pm | delete
    Fun, challenging and you just gave me an education on those quizzes and its always good to know the proper names of animal excrement!
  • madinvestment Nov 5, 2011 @ 8:03 am | delete
    Fantastic! Great lens! One big squid thumbs up vote left!
  • knit1tat2 Nov 4, 2011 @ 8:30 pm | delete
    about half right, enjoyable lens, thanks!
  • VioleTanteIffa Nov 1, 2011 @ 9:15 am | delete
    low score,but well XD..fun lense!
  • PaulOnBooks Oct 30, 2011 @ 5:31 am | delete
    I was tempted to add something like this to my common English errors lens - very adeptly done.
  • jksterling Oct 22, 2011 @ 8:00 pm | delete
    Thanks for the new words.
  • RenaissanceWoman2010 Sep 14, 2011 @ 7:50 pm | delete
    Very stimulating. Thank you. It's amazing that I got as many right as I did.
  • punkgrinder Sep 11, 2011 @ 6:04 am | delete
    Not so good score, but great lens!
  • ellagis Aug 27, 2011 @ 10:21 am | delete
    It was quite difficult for me, as English is not my mothertongue... Infact, I found the second easier than the first group of words, because most of them had a Greek or Latin root.
  • BigGirlBlue Aug 11, 2011 @ 7:25 am | delete
    40% is a good guess. Learned a few new words.
  • SophiaPark Aug 11, 2011 @ 3:16 am | delete
    Great quiz! I really had fun!
  • pramodbisht Jul 22, 2011 @ 4:19 am | delete
    Great quiz,had fun,thanks!
  • dvpwli Jul 20, 2011 @ 5:30 am | delete
    3 of 10 - not so bad ok....
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Bravo. Way to Go. Good Job. Thumbs Up.

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by

resabi

Experimenter, dabbler, follower of paths frivolous and not. I'm an editor by vocation and avocation; I also design books. Among my interests are readi... more »

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Librarian Action Figure 

Deluxe Librarian Action Figure

Deluxe Librarian Action Figure

Amazon Price: (as of 06/05/2012)Buy Now

The Librarian action figure comes surrounded by many, many book, so she knows lots and lots of words. Her favorite word is: Sh! or sometimes, SHH!

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