# Overly Specific Words **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 29, 2003, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overly-specific-words/204553 "2003-09-29T21:19:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JoeyThePenguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@JoeyThePenguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoeyThePenguin)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overly-specific-words/204553/1 "2003-09-29T21:19:20Z")
Hi, I’m wondering, what kinds of words are there, in any language, that have an extremely specific defenition? One of my favorite words is mallemaroking, the the carousing of seamen onboard icebound Greenland whaling ships. I’m sure there are other words that have defenitions as specific as this, but what are they? Other languages are fine, as long as you can tell me what they mean in English, of course. Joey. P.S. Stay out of medical terms. Nothing like a Choledochoejejunostomy. ---
**Author:** ![j\_sum1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@j\_sum1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j_sum1)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overly-specific-words/204553/2 "2003-09-30T02:49:47Z")
There is a word for the kind of person whose hobby it is to collect camembert cheese labels. But I forget what it is. It’s been a while since I had to use it in a sentence. ---
**Author:** ![knock\_knock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/22d042/32.png) [@knock\_knock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knock_knock)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overly-specific-words/204553/3 "2003-09-30T03:02:50Z")
luposlipophobia - fear of being chased around the kitchen table by timberwolves in your socks on a newly waxed floor -gary larsen ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overly-specific-words/204553/4 "2003-09-30T10:43:33Z")
There is a Chinese word, **Koro** , defined as the hysterical belief that one’s penis is shrinking. Sheesh! ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overly-specific-words/204553/5 "2003-09-30T15:46:48Z")
_Defenestration_ is the act of throwing someone or something out of a window. Exactly WHICH window is not included in the definition. ---
**Author:** ![carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrot)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overly-specific-words/204553/6 "2003-09-30T16:02:20Z")
The [Grandiloquent Dictionary](http://www.islandnet.com/%7Eegbird/dict/dict.htm). Your one stop shop for words that you have absolutely no business using in casual conversation. For instance, the very first entry: > [@](#): > > abacinate - To blind by putting a hot copper basin near someone’s eyes ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overly-specific-words/204553/7 "2003-09-30T16:14:09Z")
I once collected a bunch of Scot Gaelic words in this vein and posted the list to another message board…here’s a sample: [quote] [ul][li]alla-bhuadhach: victorious, but in disgrace [/li][li]amhain: lying on the back without power of moving [/li][li]atamaich: to fondle an unreasonable person [/li][li]bleid: a sly kind of impertinent begging [/li][li]ciamhadh: pulling by the hair [/li][li]cinneabhag: a young woman who prides herself on her family [/li][li]claidean: an absurd hammering at anything [/li][li]cnead: a sudden moan [/li][li]conachair: a sick person who gets neither better nor worse in health [/li][li]corra-chodal: sleeping on one’s elbow [/li][li]draghaistich: to drag in an absurd or childish way [/li][li]dreineag: a grinning girl [/li][li]drip: a snare meant for another but ensnaring the author of it [/li][li]easaraich: the state of requiring much attendance and service without moving from your seat [/li][li]fuileamain: a bleeding toe [/li][li]gair-bhaite: a drowning cry [/li][li]grac: to frighten a child with frowns [/li][li]greigh: uncommon heat of the sun after bursting out from under a cloud [/li][li]liobh: a slimy substance like blood on the surface of water [/li][li]moit: pretended indifference, shyness while speaking about a thing one is very keen for [/li][li]neagaid: a little sob or sigh, often repeated, as a person before or after weeping [/li][li]ruic: undesirable fondness [/li][li]sgaift: to burst in consequence of eating too much [/li][li]sgeamhaltrach: one who does something furiously [/li][li]sgean, sgian: a startled, hunted look [/li][li]sgiomalaireachd: mean habits of popping in upon people at meals: living (and doing nothing) about gentlemen’s kitchens [/li][li]spriolag: an evil genius [/li][li]tacharan: the yelling of ghosts or orphans [/ul][/li][/quote] ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overly-specific-words/204553/8 "2003-09-30T16:30:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by knock knock \* > \*\*luposlipophobia - fear of being chased around the kitchen table by timberwolves in your socks on a newly waxed floor > > -gary larsen \*\* The timberwolves are in your socks? Or you are? ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overly-specific-words/204553/9 "2003-09-30T17:21:57Z")
Thanks, Kizarvexius! Defenestration has been bugging me for quite some. Why is there a word for this?!?! Might as well have a word for turning your eyelids inside out. ---
**Author:** ![knock\_knock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/22d042/32.png) [@knock\_knock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knock_knock)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overly-specific-words/204553/10 "2003-10-01T21:10:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shade \* > \*\*The timberwolves are in your socks? Or you are? \*\* Did I tell you about the time I shot an elephant in my pajamas? Maybe the definition should say “while wearing socks” ---
**Author:** ![j\_sum1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@j\_sum1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j_sum1)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overly-specific-words/204553/11 "2003-10-01T23:12:57Z")
**Carrot** this is amazing!! I plan to learn and use one a day. Today’s word: _cephaleonomancy_ – telling the future by examining the boiled hea of an ass. ---
**Author:** ![c\_carol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@c\_carol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c_carol)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overly-specific-words/204553/12 "2003-10-01T23:16:37Z")
> [@](#): > > atamaich: to fondle an unreasonable person Thank you, gallows fodder, I think I have a new favorite word 🙂 I’m also very fond of “antepenultimate”, which means “the one before the next-to-last”. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2003, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overly-specific-words/204553/13 "2003-10-01T23:16:40Z")
When I visited Prague, almost every castle and church had stories of someone being _defenistrated_ there. I didn’t know the word at first, but soon learned. It seems to be a common and traditional method of execution in the Czech Republic. ---
**Author:** ![dakravel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@dakravel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dakravel)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overly-specific-words/204553/14 "2003-10-02T03:10:00Z")
I don’t think it’s much of a way of execution so much a convenient way of getting rid of someone _\__. I mean, I don’t think they actualy throw people out of windows for execution do they? And I mean execution, not murder, or a casualty in the midst of a revolution/usurping of the throne. ---
**Author:** ![knock\_knock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/22d042/32.png) [@knock\_knock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knock_knock)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overly-specific-words/204553/15 "2003-10-02T03:10:12Z")
The Defenestration of Prague was a trigger of the Thirty Years War in 1618. The defenestrated people did not die, as they landed in a nice soft pile of shit. Also, did you know that Sir Mix-a-lot likes steatopygic women? (steatopygic - having a fat behind - from **carrot** ’s link). ---
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overly-specific-words/204553/16 "2003-10-02T03:37:54Z")
I’ve always like the word “groaking” or “to groak”, which means to watch others eating food hoping they’ll offer you some. ---
**Author:** ![Yumblie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/76d3ee/32.png) [@Yumblie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumblie)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2003, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overly-specific-words/204553/17 "2003-10-02T05:10:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*\*boanthropy - ( ) \*\*\* > The delusion that one is an ox It’s funny to think that someone actually spurred the invention of words like these. ---
**Author:** ![pierre72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b2d939/32.png) [@pierre72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pierre72)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2003, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overly-specific-words/204553/18 "2003-10-02T10:21:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jimpatro \* > \*\*Thanks, Kizarvexius! Defenestration has been bugging me for quite some. Why is there a word for this?!?! Might as well have a word for turning your eyelids inside out. \*\* You mean occultooculimancepoting? ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2003, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overly-specific-words/204553/19 "2003-10-02T10:36:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by knock knock \* > Did I tell you about the time I shot an elephant in my pajamas? Wouldn’t your pyjamas be too small for an elephant? ---
**Author:** ![knock\_knock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/22d042/32.png) [@knock\_knock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knock_knock)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2003, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overly-specific-words/204553/20 "2003-10-02T15:49:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Floater \* > \*\*Wouldn’t your pyjamas be too small for an elephant? \*\* How an elephant got in my pajamas I’ll never know. -Groucho Marx [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overly-specific-words/204553.md?page=2)