# Ointment! Amphibians! A funny word thread! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 4, 2001, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ointment-amphibians-a-funny-word-thread/67473 "2001-06-04T02:56:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Grok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grok)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2001, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ointment-amphibians-a-funny-word-thread/67473/1 "2001-06-04T02:56:21Z")
Girlfriend and I have a thing about words that are inherently funny. A brief list: Chimp Fang Cutlet Flange Crate Crispy And of course, Ointment and Amphibian You have to sort of look at them individually, with no context. Sort of meditate on them for a moment, and you’ll see what we mean. OK, let’s have your additions to the list. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2001, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ointment-amphibians-a-funny-word-thread/67473/2 "2001-06-04T03:13:46Z")
**sponge schism gneiss paradigm idiom quintal** ---
**Author:** ![HomeSlice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9d8465/32.png) [@HomeSlice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HomeSlice)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2001, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ointment-amphibians-a-funny-word-thread/67473/3 "2001-06-04T03:30:47Z")
Pickle ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2001, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ointment-amphibians-a-funny-word-thread/67473/4 "2001-06-04T03:33:29Z")
Tits, winkle and vibraphone! Rotary Wankle engine… ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2001, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ointment-amphibians-a-funny-word-thread/67473/5 "2001-06-04T03:46:05Z")
It’s actually “Wankle Rotary Engine”, but hey. I’ll suggest: moist. ---
**Author:** ![AndYrAStar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8edcca/32.png) [@AndYrAStar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndYrAStar)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2001, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ointment-amphibians-a-funny-word-thread/67473/6 "2001-06-04T03:46:55Z")
Snausage ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2001, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ointment-amphibians-a-funny-word-thread/67473/7 "2001-06-04T04:04:34Z")
Belly ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2001, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ointment-amphibians-a-funny-word-thread/67473/8 "2001-06-04T04:51:01Z")
In many African languages, words with an unvocalised silibant and labial termination are common, while in the Indo-European languages, this combination is found in only two words in common usage: ``` "orgasm" "fascism" ``` Countless rock stars, from Mick Jagger on, have expropriated African-American vernacular to express, in an enriching Anglo-Saxon economy, the metaphor on the condition of besmitten manhood vs. delorious womanhood, but I don’t think they will ever successfully bridge either the African/European or man/woman “chasm.” ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2001, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ointment-amphibians-a-funny-word-thread/67473/9 "2001-06-04T04:52:13Z")
was such of asterisk potato episcopalian ---
**Author:** ![DynoSaur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DynoSaur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DynoSaur)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2001, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ointment-amphibians-a-funny-word-thread/67473/10 "2001-06-04T05:02:08Z")
Juxtaopse. Obsequious. Omniscient. Synergy. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2001, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ointment-amphibians-a-funny-word-thread/67473/11 "2001-06-04T05:09:06Z")
Presbyterian. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Little\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Bird)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2001, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ointment-amphibians-a-funny-word-thread/67473/12 "2001-06-04T05:40:39Z")
Hemi-Demi-Semi-Quaver. It means 8th note. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Daemon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Daemon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daemon)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2001, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ointment-amphibians-a-funny-word-thread/67473/13 "2001-06-04T05:46:11Z")
Onomotopiea: jism ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2001, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ointment-amphibians-a-funny-word-thread/67473/14 "2001-06-04T05:46:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Slithy Tove \* > \*\*while in the Indo-European languages, this combination is found in only two words in common usage: > > ``` > "orgasm" > "fascism" > > ``` > > …I don’t think they will ever successfully bridge either the African/European or man/woman “chasm.” > > \*\* 1. The cognates for “orgasm” and “fascism” do not end “-sm” in most IE languages. 2. “chasm” is not a borrowing from an African language. It is from the Greek “khasma”. 3. You forgot “spasm” and all the other “-ism” words. ---
**Author:** ![Daemon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Daemon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daemon)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2001, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ointment-amphibians-a-funny-word-thread/67473/15 "2001-06-04T05:53:57Z")
**Bultaco** , always made me think of a Mexican place, not a motorcycle company… ---
**Author:** ![Broken\_Doll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbce88/32.png) [@Broken\_Doll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broken_Doll)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2001, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ointment-amphibians-a-funny-word-thread/67473/16 "2001-06-04T05:55:44Z")
Supple ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2001, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ointment-amphibians-a-funny-word-thread/67473/17 "2001-06-04T06:23:30Z")
Gotta add my very favourite word: **creosote**. Hmm, here are the rest of mine… [ul] [li]queue[/li][li]ululate[/li][li]orange[/li][li]moon[/li][li]orb[/li][li]toad[/li][li]frog[/li][li]gadget[/li][li]twee[/li][li]amphitheatre, amphitheater[/li][li]wow[/li][li]woofer[/li][/ul] [sub](NOTE: **Doggie** ’s having fun here)[/sub] [ul] [li]gossip[/li][li]quack[/li][li]snickersnee[/li][li]honkytonk[/li][li]buttock[/li][li]agog[/li][li]bicycle[/li][li]boggle[/li][li]welt[/li][li]goo[/li][li]plug[/li][li]pang[/li][li]bosom[/li][li]gloat[/li][li]goat[/li][li]squeak[/li][li]hobgoblin[/li][/ul] Geez, I’d better stop now. This is one of those posts for which I’m going to keep thinking of stuff after I’ve hit _submit_. Curse you **Grok**! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ColonelMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f6c823/32.png) [@ColonelMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColonelMoose)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2001, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ointment-amphibians-a-funny-word-thread/67473/18 "2001-06-04T06:53:50Z")
Bamboozle. Discombobulate. Burrito. (Try pronouncing it Buh-REE-toe, accenting the middle syllable with a huuuge falsetto pitch) M. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2001, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ointment-amphibians-a-funny-word-thread/67473/19 "2001-06-04T06:56:38Z")
I’m surprised TheLoadedDog hasn’t mentioned what I have always considered the funniest word in the English language chook It’s so appropriate, the common slang (in Australia, at least) for a chicken. So fitting for that noble bird. ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2001, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ointment-amphibians-a-funny-word-thread/67473/20 "2001-06-04T09:33:53Z")
uvula fork stork twig spigot rhythm syzygy yowl Worcestershire gnu epithet doodle snot rhino [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ointment-amphibians-a-funny-word-thread/67473.md?page=2)