FrathWiki Advent Calendar: Difference between revisions
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What's an ananym? | What's an ananym? | ||
*A: A name spelled backwards that is sometimes used as a pseudonyum. Oprah Winfrey uses an anaym of her first name for her production company Harpo. | *A: A name spelled backwards that is sometimes used as a pseudonyum. Oprah Winfrey uses an anaym of her first name for her production company Harpo. | ||
Revision as of 11:01, 12 December 2008
1st December
What are you afraid of if you have pogonophobia?
- A: Beards, or men wearing beards.
2nd December
In Gaelic, what is the literal meaning of the name 'Campbell'?
- A: 'Crooked Mouth'.
3rd December
What was the original meaning of the Latin word 'musculus', meaning 'muscle'?
- A: 'Little mouse'.
4th December
What language gave us the word 'honcho', for 'big shot' or 'boss'?
- A: Japanese. Hancho means 'squad commander' in Japanese.
5th December
What does the name 'Jonah' mean when translated from Hebrew?
- A: 'Dove'.
6th December
What flower's name means 'nose-twitching' in Latin - a name bestowed on it because of its pungent aroma?
- A: The nasturtium
7th December
What was the original meaning of the word 'clue'?
- A: A ball of thread or yarn, with reference to the one Theseus used as a guide out of the Labyrinth, which makes the concept of unravelling a clue all the more meaningful.
8th December
What is poliosis?
- A: The graying of the hair. It comes from 'polios', the Greek word for 'grey'. The disease poliomyelitis was so named because it involves the inflammation of the grey matter of the spinal cord.
9th December
How did the duffle bag get its name.
- A: From the Belgian town of Duffel, where the coarse, thick-napped woollen fabric used for the bags was manufactured.
10th December
Dublin theatre manager James Daly was credited with inventing and introducing what word into the English language during the late eighteenth century by scrawling it in bathrooms and other public places?
- A: 'Quiz': Daly reportedly bet a friend he could introduce a new word into the language within 24 hours - and won.
11th December
What did the term 'skyscraper' originally mean - before it was used to describe a tall building?
- A: It was the name of the small triangular sail set above the royals on square-riggers to catch wind in calm weather. It was later used to describe tall men and horses, and eventually buildings.
12th December
What's an ananym?
- A: A name spelled backwards that is sometimes used as a pseudonyum. Oprah Winfrey uses an anaym of her first name for her production company Harpo.
