Sometimes it’s on the tip of your tongue… "What is it called again?" It’s not always easy to remember those out-of-the-ordinary things but to refresh your memory, here’s what it is called.
Mid-men, the male versions of mid-wives, are called accouchers.
The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are called aglets.
The distance that a place holder falls from a glass when it is lifted (you know, place holders sometimes get stuck to the bottom of a cold glass when you lift the glass) is called a bevemeter.
The study of creatures such as Bigfoot, the chupacabra, and the Loch Ness monster is called cryptozoology. Zoologist Bernard Heuvelmans coined the term to describe his investigations of animals unknown to science.
The apparatus used in alcohol distilleries for freeing the spirit from water is called the dephlegmator.
One that speaks two languages – is bilingual – can be said to be diglot.
Ducks are never male. The males of the species are called drakes. In a casino, however, ducks is a nickname for a pair of deuces.
The working section of a piano is called the action.
Shoemakers are commonly called cobblers but correctly speaking a cobbler is a shoe repairmen. A shoemaker is a cordwainer – they also made leather bottles and harnesses.
The device at the intersection of two railroad tracks to permit the wheels and flanges on one track to cross or branch for the other is called a frog.
A specific length of thread or yarn according to the type of fiber is called a hank. For linen, a hank is 274 metres (300 yards); for cotton, it is 768 metres (840 yards).
The white part of your fingernail is called the lunula.
The thin line of cloud that forms behind an aircraft at high altitudes is called a contrail.
A depth of 2 fathoms (3,6 metres) is called a Mark Twain. Originally a fathom was the space reached by with two arms outstretched.
In the early days of film making, people who worked on the sets were called movies. The films were called potion pictures.
The tendency of the leaves or petals of certain plants to assume a different position at night is called nyctitropism.
The back of the human hand is the opisthenar.
Revealing personality traits through writing is referred to as graphology. See What Your Handwriting Means
Someone who uses as few words as possible when speaking is called pauciloquent.
People that study fish are called ichthyologists.
The pin that holds a hinge together is called a pintle.
The gland responsible for producing the hormone that regulates growth is called the pituitary gland. It is the size of a pea.
A melody is a group of notes in a certain order that results in a sweet or agreeable sound. An easily remembered melody is called a tune.
Compulsive shopping was identified by a German psychiatrist almost a hundred years ago. Clinically it is known as oniomania. Shopaholics are the people who do not suffer from chrematophobia, which is the fear of touching money. Also see phobias
In early France the distance a man could walk while smoking one pipeful of tobacco was called a pipee.
The central shaft of a bird’s feather which bears the vane or web of the feather is called a rachis.
The small cup in which an espresso is served is called a demitasse.
A philologist study linguistics and etymology.
People who cannot taste or smell suffer from anosmia.
The hairless area of roughened skin at the tip of a bear’s snout is called the rhinarium.
Someone who habitually picks their nose is called a rhinotillexomaniac (rhino=nose, tillexis=habit of picking at something, mania=obsession with something).
A building in which silence is enforced, like a library or school room, is referred to as a silentium.
The ear-splitting sound produced by the high notes of a bagpipe is called a skirl.
The fleshy projection above the bill on a turkey is called a snood.
People who chase after rare birds are called twitchers.
4 gills of ale and beer is 1 pint, 2 pints = 1 quart, 4 quarts = 1 gallon, 9 gallons = 1 firkin, 2 firkins = 1 kilderkin, 3 kilderkins = 1 hogshead, 2 hogsheads = 1 butt.
The practice of eating insects is called entomophagy
Most insects are edible. According to eatbug.com, there are 1,462 recorded species of edible insects. And they’re quite nutritious. For instance, 100 grams of cricket contains only 121 calories, less than half of beef. A cricket contains only 5,5 grams of fat, compared to 21,2g of beef. Beef contains more protein (23,5g – a cricket 12.9g) but the 100g of cricket also contains 5,1g of carbohydrates, 75,8 mg calcium, 185,3 mg phosphorous, 9,5 mg iron, thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin.
Now You Know!
Gill.
Jul 01, 2009 @ 14:24:22
Hahahaha well this was a different blog Rhonda, I learned a lot here. Hope you are well, hugs Gill.x x
Princess
Jul 01, 2009 @ 14:28:09
Ooooh very interesting, thanks 4 that! Hope u have a lovely resta day! Luv PF XXX
Touch
Jul 01, 2009 @ 14:36:53
OW, MY POOR HEADBONE! Rhonda, you now I\’m not supposed to do too much thinking!
Joe
Jul 01, 2009 @ 14:38:30
Wow, there was a whole passle of things I didn\’t know here! Very intersting my friend!
Happy
Jul 01, 2009 @ 14:55:35
Great post! I see I don\’t suffer from chrematophobia. LOL Not sure family will go for garden salad plus crickets but I\’ll push the riboflavin and niacin factors. LOL Have a splendid day Rhonda
Amy
Jul 01, 2009 @ 14:56:45
Rhonda…I will NEVER remember these words!!!!!
Amy
Jul 01, 2009 @ 14:57:42
::whispering:: Guaranteed that Cheryll already knew all this. She KNOWS everything. As a matter of fact, I believe she may be the smartest person I have ever known!
simon
Jul 01, 2009 @ 15:13:36
I see you are feeling Verbose. Personally I\’ve stooped that in puplic, since the court order \’n\’ all
m60a3
Jul 01, 2009 @ 15:15:28
Rhonda my old friend, this brain twister is something, but I wish you could have waited till I\’d been off my shift for a while. LOL these are pretty cool, had a good giggle on some of these. Hope all is well with you and Emma, have a great day my friend.Peace to YouMark
freckles
Jul 01, 2009 @ 15:15:53
hehee ~x~
Touch
Jul 01, 2009 @ 15:16:54
Everyone be careful, Simon has stooped for some reason!
simon
Jul 01, 2009 @ 15:22:04
Have Tea, will drink, (That\’s to imbibe for I think ?)
Sheila
Jul 01, 2009 @ 15:35:56
I enjoyed these. I really liked the part about the nutrition of bugs, although I\’d have to be starving to eat one. LOL! When I read the train one about the things called frogs, I thought of another thing called a frog. The clasp (flat on the bottom and round on the top) like you find on some tietacks and used to attach the ribbons to a military uniform are also called frogs. Another name for these are "d__n its" (yeah, a cuss word) because that\’s what you say when you lose the silly things.
REBECCA
Jul 01, 2009 @ 16:31:22
True, it\’s not always easy to remember the "proper" names for these out-of-the-ordinary things—but, it\’s even harder if you never heard them in the first place. (^;^) And truth be told, I\’ll probably be like the chimp above scratching his head and thinking, "Hmmm?" while hoping I never need to remember even half of these. I am more of a "thing-a-ma-jig" and "what-cha-ma-call-it" kind of gal! (LOL) Thanks for sharing and have a great day, Rhonda. Hope you and Emma are doing well.Hugs,Becky
Rhonda
Jul 01, 2009 @ 17:07:58
Simon, I have tea just for you.
simon
Jul 01, 2009 @ 17:14:40
Small cup? two sugars .Big mug? Three sugars . Huge mug? – british colloquilism for people like Chip Hmm Thanks
Rhonda
Jul 01, 2009 @ 17:27:22
LOL…comin right up!
Brett
Jul 01, 2009 @ 18:17:29
No pig factoids . . . this blog is a sham !!! :: Slams door/storms out of Rhonda\’s Space ::
Samuel J
Jul 01, 2009 @ 19:12:45
Owwwwwwwwwww! I\’m with Chip! My Headbone hurts too! Maybe a Butt of beer will help…..naw….I don\’t drink…..beer anyway. What is a gallon of coffee called? Simon How big are the sugars? are we talking spoons or cups?? I\’ll share these facts with the real Ishkabibel Smackinass…..He\’s always trying to fill my head with little know interesting facts….Good thing I have that "Too many Kids" disease…..Old Tymers…… Just yesterday he wanted to use my Turkey Injector to take his nephew\’s O+ blood to sell
simon
Jul 01, 2009 @ 20:21:07
Tea Cup returned http://www.elitecateringhire.co.uk/products/chinaware/cupsandsaucers.phpMany thanks Rhonda. Sheraven – the Sugar is measured \’officially\’ in level tea spoons. (approx 15ml in liquid volume terms) – though I tend to heap the sugar to maximum on each spoonfull. A gallon of coffee is called a heartattack. – hope you don\’t mind me helping out on your page ?
simon
Jul 01, 2009 @ 20:22:41
How Odd? Sheraven just turned into Samuel J Frog? Another instant gender change I wonder?
Rhonda
Jul 01, 2009 @ 20:30:13
I was just wondering where my froggy friend came from…LOL!Piggy, you need to go back to your pen and get your little piggy attitude adjusted and then come back and apologize.Maybe if you would sign my slide guestbook, I would be more accomdating to posting some pig factodids!Hmmmmmmm????
Brett
Jul 01, 2009 @ 20:33:55
Old people can be so cranky sometimes . . . . Sheeesssssh !!!
Rhonda
Jul 01, 2009 @ 20:35:44
Oh Good Lord…this is not helping your case at all…don\’t make me come over there!
Touch
Jul 01, 2009 @ 20:38:20
That frog came from Portsmouth (pronounce Porch-mutt if you happen to me from Tidewater) Virginia.Piggy – just for you; a pig can be a boar (male), sow (female), hog (Easter dinner on the hoof)….shall I go one?
Rhonda
Jul 01, 2009 @ 20:45:24
Yeah Piggy…like Chip said…LOL!
Captain
Jul 01, 2009 @ 20:47:26
Gosh, my lunulas look atrotious! If it wasn\’t for the firkin of scotch I had today, I wouldn\’t be such a fhinotillexomaniac anyway! lol! Thanx for the trivia Rhonda. I just love this stuff! Still, you can\’t get me to eat bugs no matter what you say. Archnids only… They\’re nice with a little butter on the barbie :O):Q xxx
Brett
Jul 01, 2009 @ 21:01:45
Guess it\’s been a quiet day at the retirement home today Chip and Rhonda . . . any of you wanna play Boccie or Bingo ?
Samuel J
Jul 01, 2009 @ 21:17:41
I resemble that remark…..and we play Corn Hole and Wii Bowling at the retirement home now…
Palla-Jane
Jul 01, 2009 @ 21:26:02
Haha, Rhonda – love this post!! Such research to put it up – here are a couple more for information of our fingers :-Thumb – Puce. Forefinger – Index. Middle finger – Medius. Ring finger – Annulaire. Little finger – Auriculaire. LOL.
simon
Jul 01, 2009 @ 21:33:48
AhA! I have found the answer to your First question. The tip of the tounge , what is it called. It is Apex Linguea ….and Now I may attempt to enter into a somnambullationary inclanation…..Good night http://www.medilexicon.com/medicaldictionary.php?t=5377
Touch
Jul 01, 2009 @ 21:36:39
No, no, no that ape scratching his head is called Mr. Chuckles! Silly Englishman!
simon
Jul 01, 2009 @ 21:40:08
OOh – Ha ha – Of course Mr Chuckles, of course. Sorry \’Rocket Man\’ I didn\’t recognise him without your lipstick.
Touch
Jul 01, 2009 @ 21:41:18
WOOOO PIG SOOOIEE! C\’MON PIG PIG PIG SOOOIEE! Somebody get the sledge hammer ready; we\’s fixin\’ to have us a pig pickin\’! WOOOO PIG! I didn\’t do 5 semesters at the University of Arkansas,Little Rock for nothin\’!
Samuel J
Jul 01, 2009 @ 21:46:10
Oh Boy! fresh chittlins! And Pork Rinds….and Bacon!!!
Rhonda
Jul 01, 2009 @ 23:13:53
Someone catch that naughty pig;! Retirement home, pftt! Pig Pickin….yahoo! I think I\’m gonna have to go to Piggy\’s Playhouse and take care of business, ya with me Chip?
Brett
Jul 01, 2009 @ 23:20:59
Okay Rhonda,take it easy . . . . don\’t be getting your granny panties in a bunch.Take deep breaths . . . don\’t want to get too excited now.Pffffft,seniors today have no sense of humor. Here ya go Rhonda :: Spoon feeding Rhonda baby food :: this way you can leave your teeth in the glass on your bedside table.Have a good one you crazy old coot ! Peace.~ Piggy ~
Rhonda
Jul 01, 2009 @ 23:27:53
LOL…go check your guestbook Mr. Pigerrific…dinner is served!Goodnight you naughy ole pig!
Brett
Jul 01, 2009 @ 23:30:13
My the elderly are nasty when they\’re not medicated.LOL !!!!
Amy
Jul 01, 2009 @ 23:34:56
HOLY COW! Am I glad I missed out on all this! ::walking out::
Touch
Jul 01, 2009 @ 23:39:52
Now, Piggy, just relax and let Rhonda put that apple in your mouth while I give you a little love tap with this sledge hammer. You probably won\’t feel a thing. Don\’t make me use this hand cannon. Sam\’s favorite doggy snack is pigs ears and I don\’t want to mess them up. And what do you mean we\’re nasty when we\’re not medicated? I\’m medicated! Hell, I\’m medicated enough for 6 of us!!
Amy
Jul 01, 2009 @ 23:43:27
::walking up behind Rocket…whacking him over the back of the head with Jack bottle::
Cheryll
Jul 01, 2009 @ 23:46:17
::stepping out from behind Amy . . . . . slamming him into the ground with the shovel::
Amy
Jul 01, 2009 @ 23:46:38
::High fiving Cheryll:: Our job here is done!
Samuel J
Jul 01, 2009 @ 23:47:29
Goodnight RhondaGoodnight SimonI\’m staying up with Rocket….I got first dibs on the pork chops!
Rhonda
Jul 02, 2009 @ 00:19:28
Man oh Man and I thought you guys were my friends…sheesh, shux, darn…I\’m goin to bed now and cryin myself to sleep. Piggy was a very naughy porkie tonight and we just had to teach em to play nice and then Amy and Cheryl come and rescue him…my oh my…shame on you 2 girls…Piggy needed a little fire lit under em, that\’s all…shame on you Piggy making the girls get you out of this mess. ::helping Chip up off the ground:: that\’s okay, we\’ll get em next time but watch out…them girls are brutal and they always carry a shovel and a bottle of Jack!
Cheryll
Jul 02, 2009 @ 00:23:41
NOBODY puts Piggy on a spit. Not on our watch.
Amy
Jul 02, 2009 @ 00:25:38
::standing behind Cheryll…looking over her shoulder:: YEAH!
Touch
Jul 02, 2009 @ 00:40:52
Silly females. Hitting me in the head won\’t do anything but make you arms tired. Oh look, they started the fireworks early this year. Wait a minute…….is this Canada? If it is, I\’m in trouble because I don\’t speak Canadian.
Rhonda
Jul 02, 2009 @ 00:54:37
I got your back Chip…we\’ll just have to fake it. I\’m going to bed now…Amy and Cheryll don\’t love me any more…boo hoo hoo!Night all!
Brett
Jul 02, 2009 @ 03:01:00
Thanks Amy and Cheryll :: High hooving them both :: My friends are way cool . . . defending me like that. :: Spitting apple out of mouth,patooie :: Oh Rhonda,Amy and Cheryll are your friends . . . they just saved you from moi,you silly fleshie vous! Amy and Cheryll Rock !!! If you weren\’t such a wishy washy geriatric,you would rock as well Rhonda.Peace.~ Piggy ~
Angel eyes
Jul 02, 2009 @ 04:14:16
fascinating time to get some crickets …obviously angel eyes
Sue
Jul 02, 2009 @ 10:51:11
Wow…read them all! How interesting…love new words to use in scrabble. Did you know a zarf is that cardboard coffee cup holder? Or that the purlicue is the space between your thumb and forefinger? How about that a gnomon is the shadow-casting part of a sundial? Got these from the back of the latest Readers Digest wordpower–it deals with household names of things! Great scrabble words!
Amy
Jul 02, 2009 @ 12:11:46
::picking up apple…brushing it off…biting into it:: Mmm..you\’re welcome, both of you! ::walking away::
Rhonda
Jul 02, 2009 @ 12:59:21
Geez; I introduce Piggy to my friends and he tells me they rock and I\’m geriatric…what\’s wrong with this picture???That\’s okay Piggy, I\’ll just go sit in the corner in my wheelchair and knit!:sulking big time::-(
Touch
Jul 02, 2009 @ 13:00:14
AWWWW! The fireworks are over already! I guess I\’ll go stand in the corner until the ringing in the ears stop.
Amy
Jul 02, 2009 @ 13:32:59
::whispering to Rhonda:: I got picked on last month. July must be yours. ::looking at knitting…:: What are you knitting?? ::putting red, white and blue streamers thru wheel chair wheels…taping pin wheels to handles:: I brought you some tea and scones Rhonda. ::handing glass with teeth in it::
Gill.
Jul 02, 2009 @ 13:39:34
Hahahahah oh Amy!!! poor Rhonda lol!!! Well Rhonda if you are geriatric then I am too, dont worry your only as old as the man you feel 🙂
Sherry
Jul 02, 2009 @ 13:45:11
Holy cow if anyone is geriactric it\’s me lol. You guys are young whippersnappers lol.
Gill.
Jul 02, 2009 @ 13:53:38
Whoo hoo for sherry….shes always right you know Rhonda 🙂
Rhonda
Jul 02, 2009 @ 14:35:25
Thanks Gill and Sherry and afterall, Piggy is MUCH older than me!Amy, you sweet little angel you…give me those teeth so I can bite the hand that teases me!BTW, I\’m knitting a gag for Piggy…and I was nice enough to make it color coordinated for July 4th!
Touch
Jul 02, 2009 @ 14:51:28
Rhonda\’s right as usual. Piggy, tell us about the olden times when you had to walk 5 miles to school…. in waist deep snow……uphill both ways………………barefoot because you had no shoes…….because they wouldn\’t stay of your little hooves. I bet school was a lot easier back then when the encyclopedia only had one volume and the alphabet only had 11 letters.
Gill.
Jul 02, 2009 @ 15:01:19
Rhonda leave the teeth in the glass as you will be able to give a nasty suck then….sorry lol!!!:: whispering :: that piggy fella is a bit of a relic though isnt he ??? sshhhhhhh!
Amy
Jul 02, 2009 @ 15:26:34
Gill…. umm a "nasty suck?" I am NOT even going to go there!
Gill.
Jul 02, 2009 @ 15:36:11
:: looking around :: go where Amy???
Amy
Jul 02, 2009 @ 15:38:38
GILL! DO NOT UNLEASH THE BEAST!
Gill.
Jul 02, 2009 @ 15:44:34
Hahahahahahahaha :: whispering :: come out, come out wherever you are BEAST!!
Amy
Jul 02, 2009 @ 15:59:21
::shaking::
Gill.
Jul 02, 2009 @ 16:01:58
are you alright Amy, do you need me to call 911 ????
Amy
Jul 02, 2009 @ 16:11:32
Hkkkkkkkkkkkkk!
Gill.
Jul 02, 2009 @ 16:14:28
what is it ???? have you lost your voice or something ??
Cheryll
Jul 02, 2009 @ 16:43:45
lol
Lori BJ
Jul 02, 2009 @ 22:17:22
i lost my appointment slip for the test…. LOL
Rhonda
Jul 02, 2009 @ 22:32:53
Oh me oh my…what have I been missing here…LOL!Very valuable information Gill and much appreciated; I will leave the teeth in the glass.Beware Amy…the Beast needs to be unleased…be afraid…be very afraid.
Duckie
Jul 02, 2009 @ 22:42:26
How DO you hold that information in your head?? Is your nickname "Rainman?" Kidding…….Hope all is well.
Brett
Jul 02, 2009 @ 23:10:49
:: Oiling wheels of wheelchair :: Hi Rhonda love,how are you today sweetie ? :: Putting blankie on Rhonda to keep her warm :: Would you like to do more of your knitting in the solarium ? :: Gently pushing Rhonda in wheelchair,approaching stairs :: My,my,those stairs look treacherous,don\’t they ?!? :: Being sure to avoid stairs to keep Rhonda safe :: Odd how last night you had me skewered and ready to be cooked . . . . but I choose to keep my friend Rhonda safe.Piggy ain\’t so bad after all is he ?!? Moral of the story . . . Piggy may be a pain where you sit,but he always has your back.Peace.Brother Piggy.:: Thinking to myself :: Wonder if Granny bought that load of crap.Dr Rocket, Would appear that you would be in your early seventies.My father has told me that same scenario over and over again.Could you also go to dinner,a movie,the bar,then buy a car for a quarter all in the same night,and still have change left over ? Thought dropping acid became popular in the 70\’s . . . . guess I was wrong.Have a good one Rocket.Peace.Brother Piggy.Well the pleasure has been all yours,nice to see moi,have a good one fleshies . . . . gonna go watch the paint dry,more exciting than hanging out here in "The North Country Retirement Home".
Rhonda
Jul 03, 2009 @ 00:08:44
Oh Piggy, I think you need a good lashing with my cane…NO "Granny" did not buy that load of crap!Just wait Sonny…I\’ll get you yet!Paint…hmmmm….maybe that\’s the problem here…inhaling paint fumes does affect ones ability to reason and think clearly.You STILL haven\’t signed the retirement home\’s guest book either ::turning back on Piggy and crossing my arms:: Hmffff!
Cheryll
Jul 03, 2009 @ 00:12:53
::peeking out from behind tree::
Rhonda
Jul 03, 2009 @ 00:14:42
Cheryll, you are playing it mighty safe here…LOL!
Touch
Jul 03, 2009 @ 00:16:37
Aw, Piggy, as long as I\’m giving you hell it means I\’m not ignoring you. Oh and the night on the town you speak of was actually thirty five cents but I got a dime discount with my senior citizen discount.
Cheryll
Jul 03, 2009 @ 00:17:14
Just checking to make sure no one is misbehaving.
Rhonda
Jul 03, 2009 @ 00:23:27
Chip…Piggy is picking on me again!
Touch
Jul 03, 2009 @ 00:32:34
STOP THAT, OINKER! Be nice to Rhonda. You know……all this talk about old folks and geezers reminds me of the only Shakespeare ever to be driven into my head with enough force to stick: me thinks he doth protest too much! I wouldn\’t be surprised to learn that Piggy puts his Depends on the same way I do…..with a lot of assistance and 2 rolls of duck tape.
Rhonda
Jul 03, 2009 @ 00:38:01
LMAO!!! Thank you Chip…OMG I can\’t stop laughing now.I gotta go to bed but going for ice cream first.Glad someone\’s got my back!
Brett
Jul 03, 2009 @ 06:32:34
:: Piggy enters room :: Oh my,my,my . . . :: rings bell for assistance :: May I have an orderly to assist in room 209 please :: Okay push her to the side,and I\’ll remove the soiled sheets . . . . good grief,looks like Lake Eerie in here,how could such a wee person,have such a big bladder ?!? Okay,hand me a Depends please,thank you . . . :: taking duct tape from Rocket :: . . . thanks buddy. :: Replacing water in denture glass with Vodka :: There,my work is done !!! Have a good day today you sexy seniors vous! Peace.~ Brother Piggy ~Cheryll everything is alright here,just tending to my geezer Space buddies . . . last night I got lucky.Rhonda gave me a lashing with her cane,normally I have to go in town and spend 50 bucks for that.Good times,good times indeed!
Terry's
Jul 03, 2009 @ 07:06:04
Hey this is cool. I didn\’t even know these words existed . Pretty interesting read .I forget half the words already though haha 🙂 Take care dear love Terry
Rhonda
Jul 03, 2009 @ 14:02:24
Oh Brother, Piggy! What did you do to Chip to get him to help you; it\’s a scam you rotten scoundrel; he would never supply you with our supply of duct tape!
Brett
Jul 03, 2009 @ 18:35:27
Cuz Chip is a good fleshie,and most helpful . . . will drop by later to change your Depends.Peace.~ Brother Piggy~
Adrian
Jul 04, 2009 @ 00:03:44
I can\’t pronounce those words! (lol) Very interesting stuff!! Have a great \’4th\’ weekend.Peace,Adrian