# Need a specific word - quickly if possible! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 11, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-specific-word-quickly-if-possible/602614 "2011-11-11T17:58:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-specific-word-quickly-if-possible/602614/1 "2011-11-11T17:58:41Z")
Hello brilliant people. I am in need of an English word beginning with the letter H that signifies discussion, talking, debate, or get-togethers. Preferably formal English rather than slang or regionalisms. I’ve been wracking my brains for about a day now, and not coming up with anything. Any help would be most gratefully appreciated! \*it’s for a project at work that needs a name - I figure that’s far enough from homework help to be ok here, even if it really is work-required homework. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-specific-word-quickly-if-possible/602614/2 "2011-11-11T18:02:09Z")
Hashing doesn’t quite work on it’s own, does it? Like hashing something out? Sorry, it’s all I got. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-specific-word-quickly-if-possible/602614/3 "2011-11-11T18:05:49Z")
“Happening” can mean “get together”, although not so much talking or debating. And it’s a little on the slangy side. Is there any more context you can give us? ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-specific-word-quickly-if-possible/602614/4 "2011-11-11T18:06:26Z")
Haggle? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-specific-word-quickly-if-possible/602614/5 "2011-11-11T18:07:12Z")
Huddle? ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-specific-word-quickly-if-possible/602614/6 "2011-11-11T18:10:28Z")
Husting ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-specific-word-quickly-if-possible/602614/7 "2011-11-11T18:17:48Z")
Huddle might do… I agree, **John** , I spent quite a lot of time trying to make “Happening” or “Happenings” work, and it’s so close, but not quite what I want. It’s as close as I’ve gotten, and it’ll do, but I keep hoping for a better term. Its a internal doc for the public library I’m at - we’re supposed to all come up with display and programming ideas, and I’m working on one for Halloween of next year for horror readers. The boss-lady likes alliterative titles and cutesy stuff like that, so I’m trying to make her happy. If I don’t find anything better, then it’s not the end of the world, but I figured I’d try all of you before I go read through the H section of the exhaustive dictionary. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-specific-word-quickly-if-possible/602614/8 "2011-11-11T18:38:50Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > …I figured I’d try all of you before I go read through the H section of the exhaustive dictionary. Better to try a Thesaurus. Or, as I like to call them: Theaserus. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-specific-word-quickly-if-possible/602614/9 "2011-11-11T18:47:28Z")
(A) hustings does usually mean a (poltical) debate, thoguh it can be contextual as it can also mean the stage on which a debate or speech takes place. e.g.[Audience plea for live TV political hustings programme - BBC News](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-15662725) It may be too UK-centric though > **[Husting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Husting)** > > A husting originally referred to a native Germanic governing assembly, the thing. By metonymy, the term may now refer to any event (such as debates or speeches) during an election campaign where one or more of the candidates are present. > The origin of the term comes from the Old English hūsting and Old Norse hūsþing (literally "house thing"), an assembly of the followers or household retainers of a nobleman, such as a king, earl or chief. According to the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, the hus... ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-specific-word-quickly-if-possible/602614/10 "2011-11-11T18:53:31Z")
> [@These are my own pants](#): > > (A) hustings does usually mean a (poltical) debate, thoguh it can be contextual as it can also mean the stage on which a debate or speech takes place. > > e.g.[Audience plea for live TV political hustings programme - BBC News](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-15662725) > > It may be too UK-centric though > > [Husting - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Husting) It’s used in the US, but is a little obscure, and without context it would probably not be understood by 90% of the population or more. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-specific-word-quickly-if-possible/602614/11 "2011-11-11T19:05:53Z")
[Hobnobbing](http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/hobnob?view=uk)? Why must it begin with **H**? That is seriously restricting. There might well not be any **H** word with quite the meaning or connotations that you require. ---
**Author:** ![FlyByNight512](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/82dd89/32.png) [@FlyByNight512](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyByNight512)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-specific-word-quickly-if-possible/602614/12 "2011-11-11T19:09:53Z")
‘Hearing’ at least has the idea of a gathering of people for the purpose of sharing information, but it might not fit the context you’re looking for. Would something like ‘Spooky Story Summit’ work? ---
**Author:** ![meghan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@meghan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meghan)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-specific-word-quickly-if-possible/602614/13 "2011-11-11T19:26:20Z")
“Harangue” could possibly be made to work. Maybe. It’s the best I can think of. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-specific-word-quickly-if-possible/602614/14 "2011-11-11T19:55:04Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > [Hobnobbing](http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/hobnob?view=uk)? This is what I would suggest as well. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-specific-word-quickly-if-possible/602614/15 "2011-11-11T21:29:36Z")
Hubbub. ---
**Author:** ![BarefootOkieGal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BarefootOkieGal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarefootOkieGal)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-specific-word-quickly-if-possible/602614/16 "2011-11-11T22:11:39Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > Hello brilliant people. > > I am in need of an English word beginning with the letter H that signifies discussion, talking, debate, or get-togethers. Preferably formal English rather than slang or regionalisms. > > I’ve been wracking my brains for about a day now, and not coming up with anything. > > Any help would be most gratefully appreciated! > > \*it’s for a project at work that needs a name - I figure that’s far enough from homework help to be ok here, even if it really is work-required homework. “Huddle” is one synonym for “discussion” that I’ve found, although that’s slang; there’s also “host” as a synonym for “gathering.” There’s really not a lot of “H” words out there that fit! ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-specific-word-quickly-if-possible/602614/17 "2011-11-11T22:16:23Z")
Bit of a long shot, but maybe: Histrionic(s)? Okay, maybe that’s more than a bit of a long shot. **njtt** asked a seemingly reasonable question. Why H? Are you trying to come up with a cute alliterative Spiro Agnew style expression? ---
**Author:** ![bonitahi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7993a0/32.png) [@bonitahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bonitahi)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-specific-word-quickly-if-possible/602614/18 "2011-11-11T22:43:00Z")
Historically the H words have been generically overrated. Can I get you a vowel or two instead? ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-specific-word-quickly-if-possible/602614/19 "2011-11-11T22:43:54Z")
Hullabaloo? blubber…macadamia…gazebo ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-specific-word-quickly-if-possible/602614/20 "2011-11-11T23:09:24Z")
> [@panamajack](#): > > Hullabaloo? > > blubber…macadamia…gazebo Muckluks [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-specific-word-quickly-if-possible/602614.md?page=2)