July 10, 2008

Calling all my fanboys!

This week, Merriam-Webster released its list of more than 100 new words that will appear in its new edition of the Collegiate Dictionary.

Here are some of my favorites:

air quotes

def: gesture made by raising and flexing the index and middle fingers of both hands, used to call attention to a spoken word or expression.
(Do you remember that “Friends” episode when Joey kept using them incorrectly? Hilarious.)

edamame

def: immature green soybeans, usually in the pod.
(Gotta give props to my dad on this one; he’s been serving us these yummy legumes for years.)

fanboy

def: boy who is an enthusiastic devotee, such as of comics or movies.

mental health day

def: day that an employee takes off from work to relieve stress or renew vitality.

mondegreen

def: word or phrase that results from a mishearing of something said or sung. From the mishearing in a Scottish ballad of “laid him on the green” as “Lady Mondegreen.”

wing nut

def: Slang: one who advocates extreme measures or changes; radical.


For more information:

* Filed by rebecca at 6:07 pm under For the love of words

8 Responses to “Calling all my fanboys!”

  1. Jamie
    July 11th, 2008 | 10:26 am

    Now that they’ve added “mental health day” to the dictionary, how soon until they’re added to corporate benefits packages?

  2. Rebecca
    July 11th, 2008 | 10:42 am

    Good question, Jamie! Will you be the “wing nut” who proposes the idea to your company?

  3. steph
    July 11th, 2008 | 8:27 pm

    LOL!

    And hey, What about fangirls? :)

  4. Rebecca
    July 12th, 2008 | 9:42 am

    Good call, Steph! Maybe that will make the dictionary next year … I think they’re taking suggestions!

  5. Lori
    July 16th, 2008 | 10:17 am

    Wing nut? That’s what my brother’s friends used to call each other when they meant “you idiot”! Hysterical!

    Edamame I get. I love them, too. :)) I wish I understood fanboy or mondegreen. Never heard either of them until now.

  6. Rebecca
    July 16th, 2008 | 3:09 pm

    Lori: I had the same understanding of “wing nut,” too! Funny. “Fanboy” is my new favorite word (I’m a James Bond fanboy), although I agree with Steph: It’s a bit sexist. I’m actually a James Bond fangirl.

  7. Decker
    July 29th, 2008 | 3:00 pm

    How about “Watah” def: what they fill Rhode Island pools with.

  8. Rebecca
    July 29th, 2008 | 3:33 pm

    Good one, Decker. Don’t forget “cawfee”: a caffeinated beverage Rhode Islanders drink with breakfast.

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