Has anyone ever run across an fnord in any legitimate context? I’m ruling out all message board postings, any mentions in sci-fi/conspiracy media, and any encyclopedia-style articles on the subject. Ideally, I’d like something otherwise unremarkable, but verifiable–a standard textbook or a newspaper clipping…
If an fnord turned up, it would be an historic event.
I wrote a few in bathrooms in college. Does that count?
Nope, dq’d same as message board postings. Preferably, I want something in a formal publication.
It is in Dictionary.com, and the Online Medical Dictionary. Do they count? (Not in the OED though.)
When Amazon asks me why I am canceling a book order, I always reply fnord.
Why would you? It’s a joke from a book.
Well…fnord.
“There’s a fnord in your future” – Advertising slogan of Illuminati Motors Ltd.
When I read this thread title, I honestly thought “Well, yeah, they’re all over the coast of Norway”. I was halfway through the OP before I realized my mistake.
fnord
I have no idea what you are talking about.
Are you talking about a “legit” printed use of the word fnord, or are you talking about what fnord represents - something terrifying that we’ve been taught to ignore, but are still disturbed by on an unconscious level?
And why would you write “an fnord” instead of “a fnord”?
“In” starts with a vowel, you loon.
Ah yes, of course, and there was I wondering whether “in” is pronounced “eff-nord”.
Anyway, according to Wikipedia,
India's Nuclear Weapons Program - Smiling Buddha: 1974 <---- CTRL+F “fnord” 
I don’t think one would pronounce fnord as “eff-nord”. The only time you pronounce f as “eff” you are either talking about the letter itself, or it’s separated from a word (F1).
Seems like you should pronounce it much like it’s spelled, even though it’s an odd combo, like mnemonic.
I’m looking for the actual word, rather than the concept it represents. Mostly curious as to whether it might be a somewhat common printing error or something.
Ah. Well, then Colophon found one:
I’ve heard a one or two people pronounce the word as “eff-nord” but I don’t think that’s the intended pronunciation. I wonder if there are any videos of Wilson using the word online.
So… I take it you’re pining for the fnords?
But of course “mnemonic” isn’t pronounced as it’s spelt. The first “m” is silent.
I pronounce it eff-nord, but I also prefer chili with beans and eat hotdogs with ketchup, so discount as you deem appropriate.