petard /puh-tarhd/ noun
a case containing an explosive to break down a door or gate or breach a wall
ex. The blast occurred on Sunday afternoon in a farmer's house in the Anhui Province, destroying six rooms which stored materials for making petards and firecrackers.
Claymore mine: noun
a usually electrically fired land mine containing steel fragments that are discharged in a predetermined direction.
*Important: Claymore and Claymore mine are 2 completely different words. One is a 2-edged blade and the other is an explosive.
ex. When the claymore mine was set off, it took out half of our unit.
TNT: noun
a flammable toxic compound C7H5N3O6 used as a high explosive and in chemical synthesis
Etymology: trinitrotoluene
ex. The TNT exploded, causing for the sides of the tunnel to collapse.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Jabberwocky
Jabberwocky- (noun) Invented or meaningless language, nonsense
Term originated from Lewis Carroll's classic nonsensical poem, Jabberwocky
Jabberwocky, included in Lewis Carroll's well known story of Alice's Adventures through the Looking-Glass, is one of the most famous poems in recent history. Most of his words are nonsensical, yet from the mere context, we can derive those which are nouns, adjectives, and verbs. Some of these portmanteaus, or combined words, have been included in the modern dictionary.
Today, we ask you to find the words in the excerpts of this poem that have been adopted into the modern english language. More complicated words are emboldened, to make it easier. All the words you need to find will be within those that are bold.
Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled in his joy.
Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Term originated from Lewis Carroll's classic nonsensical poem, Jabberwocky
Jabberwocky, included in Lewis Carroll's well known story of Alice's Adventures through the Looking-Glass, is one of the most famous poems in recent history. Most of his words are nonsensical, yet from the mere context, we can derive those which are nouns, adjectives, and verbs. Some of these portmanteaus, or combined words, have been included in the modern dictionary.
Today, we ask you to find the words in the excerpts of this poem that have been adopted into the modern english language. More complicated words are emboldened, to make it easier. All the words you need to find will be within those that are bold.
Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled in his joy.
Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Eating Off of Words
pannikin- A small metal cup
Demitasse- A small coffee cup
Chalice- an ornate goblet cast from metal
Salver- A tray used in formal circumstances
Paten- a shallow plate or dish
Crock- A jug or jar
Porringer- a small bowl used for soups and stews
Antonyms
These terms are all antonyms of more common terms. Name the opposite term.
Estivate (verb)- (of a plant or animal) to spend a warm dry season in a state of dormancy
The Giant African Snail spends most of the hot summer in estivation to prevent it's soft body from drying out.
Vernal (adj)- In or relating to spring
The Vernal equinox takes place every year on March 21st.
Occidental (adj)- of or relating to western countries.
Immigrants to America are often overwhelmed by the occidental cultural practices.
Estivate (verb)- (of a plant or animal) to spend a warm dry season in a state of dormancy
The Giant African Snail spends most of the hot summer in estivation to prevent it's soft body from drying out.
Vernal (adj)- In or relating to spring
The Vernal equinox takes place every year on March 21st.
Occidental (adj)- of or relating to western countries.
Immigrants to America are often overwhelmed by the occidental cultural practices.
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