# Ever "Invented" A Word? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 21, 2010, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-invented-a-word/544064 "2010-06-21T23:52:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-invented-a-word/544064/41 "2010-06-25T03:47:00Z")
Catalina Island, spring break c. 1982: When the loaf of bread is found at the bottom of the bag of camping food, it is not so much bread as Wheatwads. ™ ---
**Author:** ![Cyningablod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Cyningablod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyningablod)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-invented-a-word/544064/42 "2010-06-25T04:12:47Z")
My wife coined the all-time best English-Spanish neologism (we’re both bilingual). Keep in mind that the term you’re about to read is **© Mrs. Cyningablod, 2010**. Know how in English, we refer to romantic comedies as “chick flicks”? Well, carrying that term over (literally) into Spanish, my wife invented películas chículas \*\* 😃 \*\*She and I have a habit of rendering English idioms into Spanish literally, to see what sort of funny nonsense phrases result. In this case, the Spanish for “movie” or “film” is _película_. Likewise, _chica_ means “girl” or “chick”. So just add the ending of the former to the latter, and _voila!_ Another silly English-Spanish idio(tis)m **(Hey! I just coined _idiotism_, meaning, "a stupid colloquial expression!!)** :D: When we want to say “I’ll be right back,” in Spanish, rather than say it properly using a native Spanish idiom, we’ll say something like, “Seré derecho espalda.” (Spanish-speakers will know how ludicrous that is, as it’s a nonsensical, literal translation from the English. _Derecho_ means “right”, as in, opposite of left, and _espalda_ is an anatomical term, meaning, the rear of the body [back].:p) ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-invented-a-word/544064/43 "2010-06-25T04:44:10Z")
I’m a student in music. One of my professors introduced me to the term “auricular” as a counterpart to “spectacular” to fight back against the occularcentric nature of the world. In this vein, I coined the term “Aucticle” to compliment the “spectacle.” It has yet to catch on. I deliberately spell it with an ‘i’ so that it looks like ‘testicle.’ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-invented-a-word/544064/44 "2010-06-25T05:22:31Z")
_This_ is exactly what I mean about “coining” new words. (is it “coining” when it’s a _word_, or is it reserved exclusively for the word _term_?) I like it, **antonio107** , but if it makes it into the dictionary, what would then be its spelling? Is the stem of “auricular” _aura_? If so, should it be “auracular” instead of _auricular_? Also, would your word then become _auractacle_? (I’m just writing off the top of my head - haven’t looked it up in the dictionary :)) Again, this is only if the stem word is “aura”. If not, I’ve been “blown out of the water”. Also, a tiny nitpick: it’s _complement_. 😉 I love the nuances and intricacies of our language! Thanks Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2010, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-invented-a-word/544064/45 "2010-06-25T05:31:00Z")
Too late to edit. The stem is indeed “auri” (pertaining to the ear). My bad. Q ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-invented-a-word/544064/46 "2010-06-27T21:01:37Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > Too late to edit. The stem is indeed “auri” (pertaining to the ear). > > My bad. > > Q I just caught this bit now, otherwise I’d have given you the heads up earlier. Yes, it come from “aural” or “auri.” I suppose technically it would be an “auricle,” but I have enough grief trying to differentiate my pronunciation of oral and aural, that I want it to be different from “oracle,” thus auctacle! ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-invented-a-word/544064/47 "2010-06-27T21:27:42Z")
I hate the feeling of touching my tongue to velvet-like materials. When I was about six I coined the word ‘sowzy’ (rhymes with _lousy_) to describe it. My mom still uses it. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-invented-a-word/544064/48 "2010-06-28T02:38:05Z")
When I was in fourth grade, I invented the term “buttocks whipper,” and I still use the term extensively. A buttocks whipper is a lopsided athletic contest, where the losing team is getting its buttocks whipped. A buttocks whipper in basketball or football is a 20-point margin, and in baseball it’s a 10-run margin. There are also double buttocks whippers, triple buttocks whippers, and so on. If a team wins a basketball game by 40-59 points, it’s a double buttocks whipper; if it wins by 60-79 points, it’s a triple buttocks whipper, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Eggerhaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@Eggerhaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eggerhaus)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-invented-a-word/544064/49 "2010-06-28T02:47:47Z")
When I worked nights many years ago I told my ex to leave the bedroom door open one catsbreadth so they could get in and out. catsbreadth=the width of one cat When I was in college I was known for using the expression, “Whoopie shit!” ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-invented-a-word/544064/50 "2010-06-28T03:14:22Z")
I thought I invented saying ‘Son of a mother!’ when swearing, but after doing this for 30 odd years, I finally heard someone else say it the other day. Either it finally has gotten around, or it’s one of those ‘everyone thinks of it at the same time’ kinda thing. Hrmph. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-invented-a-word/544064/51 "2010-06-28T06:34:41Z")
When we were young my friend and I invented “groverb” meaning good. It was probably a twist on “groovy” but I can’t remember the specifics. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@Captain\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-invented-a-word/544064/52 "2010-06-30T09:35:42Z")
When I was a kid, I went to a school that was majority black, and a word I picked up from them was “Jankee”, which means something cheap or poor quality. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-invented-a-word/544064/53 "2010-06-30T09:44:55Z")
Eye boogers=\>rheum Face pubes =\> mustache/beard Protein shots =\> sex ---
**Author:** ![The\_Real\_Regency\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@The\_Real\_Regency\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Real_Regency_Elf)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-invented-a-word/544064/54 "2010-06-30T12:26:58Z")
In the 80s when most people we knew had elaborate home sound systems we used the term **Leerio** to describe your fear of using a someone else’s stereo for the first time (if I push the wrong button it might break!). We also had a term for biting into something that shouldn’t be crunchy (such as a hot dog), but it is. Unfortunately I’ve forgotten it now. So does anybody still have all those “Sniglet” books from the 80s that are full of words like these? ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-invented-a-word/544064/55 "2010-06-30T13:43:46Z")
Manatard. Someone who is both extremely stupid as well as obese. As is in a retarded manatee. ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-invented-a-word/544064/56 "2010-06-30T16:21:06Z")
I also created _bunt_, which is a portmanteau of bitch and cunt. You know the type I’m talking about. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-invented-a-word/544064/57 "2010-06-30T16:28:43Z")
A Google search suggests that I invented “fuckstacker.” ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-invented-a-word/544064/58 "2010-06-30T17:09:32Z")
I’ve invented a word out of necessity. One of my hobbies/passions/sicknesses is national anthems. I’ve done extensive research in the field, but there isn’t a name for the study of national anthems (frankly, there aren’t that many that do it either). I figured it’s a proper enough field of study, and thought about the genesis of another field of study I’m interested in, the study of flags. Back in the 1950s, there wasn’t a term for that either, but a (teenager?) named Whitney Smith, who was heavily involved in flag research, coined the term _vexillology_ from the Latin _vexillus_, a flag. (Dr. Smith pretty much is single-handedly responsible for the whole field of vexillology now). I’ve always seen my work in the study of national anthems as akin to Dr. Smith’s work in flags, so I figured that national anthems studies must have a name. I collaborated with a friend of mine who studies ancient languages, and together we came up with _ **anthematology** _. I’m still really the only anthematologist that uses the word to any extent, but my mission to expand the field of research a la Dr. Smith continues. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-invented-a-word/544064/59 "2010-06-30T17:34:57Z")
The spouse and I have invented a few (or at least we think we have): \*\*Meanderthal \*\*- those people who wander aimlessly (usually three or four abreast) in places like malls, and are prone to changing direction at random intervals (preferably when you’re trying to get around them.) \*\*Commutant \*\*- A similar sort of person, only on the road (usually the freeway) instead of at the mall. I know that my friends and I didn’t invent the word “toast” (as in, “we’re toast!”) but we thought we did at the time, because none of us had never heard anybody else use it. This was back in the early to mid 80s. \*\*Blargh \*\*- a general explanation of annoyance or disgust (see also “ **blalth**.”) \*\*Wuffle pads \*\*- the part of a cat that they rub against you and purr loudly. (“Wuffling” is the act of doing this, but we didn’t invent that.) Does anybody remember Rich Hall and “Sniglets”? Haven’t seen any of those books for ages, but they were quite popular in the 70s. I think the world could use some new Sniglets. The ones that amuse the hell out of me were two that not only did we invent (one for the spouse, one for me) but that we thought we’d never see anywhere on earth because they were just too strange–and then one of them turned up, of all places, right here on the Dope! Mine was **twatwaffle** , my general term for idiots. The spouse’s, which I swear to (fill in your favorite deity) he invented \*long \*before I started reading the Dope (and he doesn’t even read it at all!) was… **prehensile rectum**. Nothing new under the sun, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![bananapants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@bananapants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bananapants)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-invented-a-word/544064/60 "2010-06-30T17:48:37Z")
instead of saying what the fuck i began to say what the anal. i really do not know how this happened or why i continuously say it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-invented-a-word/544064.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ever-invented-a-word/544064.md?page=4)