# Rare words **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 5, 2023, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-words/989623 "2023-09-05T00:09:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-words/989623/61 "2023-09-05T17:05:57Z")
A nap sounds very nice about now on a warm mid-week afternoon. After that, I propose Caesars rather than combat. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-words/989623/62 "2023-09-05T17:16:25Z")
I did, thanks. Though, not being a Disney+ subscriber I did not understand what the discussions were about. But I wrote fulcrum! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-words/989623/63 "2023-09-05T17:17:52Z")
The forecast high here today is 34°C (93° Murrikan) which is incredible for this time of year at this latitude (normal max is 23°C or 73° Murrikan), so even this loyal Canadian is hoisting a Jimmy Buffett inspired margarita. Caesars will occur once this last heat wave of the summer blows over. 🍸 ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-words/989623/64 "2023-09-05T17:28:29Z")
That’s only fair since last year we got some of your winter. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-words/989623/65 "2023-09-05T17:58:25Z")
I stuck vagarious into a post in honor of this thread. Everybody who participates here should do likewise. Imagine the spreading waves of bafflement. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-words/989623/66 "2023-09-05T17:59:47Z")
Perhaps one should distinguish truly rare words, from words that once were common but have fallen into disuse, from jargon. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-words/989623/67 "2023-09-05T18:01:25Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I like “defenestration.” Comes in handy when discussing Russian Oligarchs. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-words/989623/68 "2023-09-05T18:12:04Z")
They do seem fond of that. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-words/989623/69 "2023-09-05T18:19:40Z")
Of course with the right police agency conducting the investigation / inquest, almost any cause of death can become “defenestration”. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-words/989623/70 "2023-09-05T18:56:26Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > They simply fall into disuse, but you can find them on line if you query them. In the old days, they would be sentenced to the “Unabridged Dictionary”, which was a foot thick. Perhaps we need a variation on that French academy. Instead of approving new French words to replace the abominable intrusions from English, this group would declare no longer used words dead, and free them up to find a useful second life. For example, I just asked Google for some obsolete words, and among the offerings were: - Lunting: walking while smoking a pipe. Now, there’s a perfectly well-formed word. Of a reasonable length, no awkward letter combos, perfectly pronouncible on first sight to any English speaker, and perfectly spellable, too, if first encountered aubibly. Why should it be allowed to go to waste? I say its new definition is “Scrolling aimlessly about the internet, especially sites containing donated offerings from random people, in the vague hope of being amused.” Example: I had a long, hard day at work yesterday, so all I could tackle last night was a few hours lunting on YouTube before I fell into bed. Anybody else have some word they want to rescue from dilapidation? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-words/989623/71 "2023-09-05T19:05:39Z")
I like _plinth_ (Architectural base) Not applied near enough. 😊 (Wimpy deck woes) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-words/989623/72 "2023-09-05T19:13:50Z")
I was reminded recently of “catafalque”. The ceremonial plinth for a coffin. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-words/989623/73 "2023-09-05T21:03:14Z")
Gonna need a _catafalque_ around here soon if my deck don’t get leveled. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2023, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-words/989623/74 "2023-09-05T23:55:59Z")
Sort of like words falling into public domain? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2023, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-words/989623/75 "2023-09-06T00:47:28Z")
I’ve been trying to make _aestivation_ happen. I figure with the 98 degree (f) days we’re having, this would be the best time for it, but no luck. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2023, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-words/989623/76 "2023-09-06T03:06:32Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Sort of like words falling into public domain? More like being kicked out of the public domain. Or possibly entering the Federal Witness Protection program. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2023, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-words/989623/77 "2023-09-06T11:37:40Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I like _plinth_ > (Architectural base) > > Not applied near enough. 😊 Brings Jeff Beck to mind. RIP. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2023, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-words/989623/78 "2023-09-07T14:13:37Z")
I’ve always enjoyed “obesogenic”. Just encountered it in another article. Fun to say, and fun to think about. Rare in common use, but ordinary daily jargon for the folks in some parts of the health industry. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2023, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-words/989623/79 "2023-09-07T14:18:12Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Zoofpoople has only ever been used once. I think zoofpoople has been used twice… ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2023, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-words/989623/80 "2023-09-07T18:11:03Z")
How many people remember googlewhacking, a game played back in the paleolithic? I offer for this thread the [rarer version](https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=googlewhackblatt). > **googlewhackblatt** > > googlewhack with lowered criteria of only one input word. must still comply with: > > 1. must be defined by [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com). > 2. must contain no quotation marks. > 3. must link to a real article not a list of words. > > “the fun of yesteryear was googlewhacking. now im trying to find a googlewhackblatts.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-words/989623.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rare-words/989623.md?page=5)