The Rob Ford crack scandal has introduced a bevy of words into popular lexicon — some with their proper usage, and others with new meanings. Here’s a look at some of them.

Crack cocaine — A form of cocaine rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream when smoked, and considered to be the most addictive form of the drug.

Mayor Rob Ford has admitted to smoking crack “probably in a drunken stupor, probably about a year ago.” Two Star reporters have seen a video in which Ford appears to be smoking crack.

Ridiculous — Deserving or inviting derision or mockery; absurd.

It’s a word Ford has used repeatedly to describe allegations that he smoked crack, something he later admitted to having done.

Pathological — Involving or caused by a physical or mental disease.

Ford called Star reporters “pathological liars” after publishing stories that have proven to be true. Ford has not retracted his statement.

Trap house — Police term for a house where crack cocaine is sold.

Police refer to 15 Windsor Rd. as a trap house. This is where Ford was photographed with gang members. Ford insists it’s not a “crack house.”

Dixon City Bloods — A sophisticated gang operating out of the tower complex on Dixon Rd near Kipling Ave.

Police say the gang has been involved in drug and weapons trafficking. All three men who appear in the now-infamous photo of Rob Ford outside 15 Windsor Rd. are alleged members of the gang. Two have been charged with drug trafficking and one was murdered.

Project Traveller — A year-long investigation into the Dixon City Bloods gang.

The investigation culminated in the June raids in which 43 people were arrested. Police also seized 40 firearms and $3 million worth of drugs.

Project Brazen 2 — A spinoff investigation from Project Traveller.

After learning of the video in which the mayor appears to smoke crack, police trailed Ford and his driver, Alexander “Sandro” Lisi, for several months, observing behaviour “consistent with drug trafficking.” They also recovered the crack video Star reporters saw.

Spin team — Police surveillance squad.

Several rotating spin teams were used over the summer to track Ford and his occasional driver, Lisi. They used unmarked cars, fixed cameras and even a surveillance plane. They watched as Lisi dropped packages off in Ford’s car while he was inside a gas station, among other suspicious behaviour. Lisi was arrested twice in October and charged with drug trafficking and extortion.

ITO — Information to obtain.

A summary of evidence collected by police to persuade a judge to issue a search warrant. Toronto police submitted a 480-page ITO to a judge before arresting Lisi; they are usually much shorter.

Redacted — Text that has been edited for publication.

The term has come to be used when referring to documents that have passages which have been censored or blacked-out. More than half the pages of the ITO were blacked-out when the Star first obtained the ITO. Subsequent legal arguments allowed 200 of those pages to be revealed. Media lawyers are arguing for more to be released.

Statutory power — A power or right, conferred by law to a person to make a decision.

In Ontario, the City of Toronto Act gives the mayor several powers that cannot be taken away unless the law is changed at Queen’s Park. In the past week, a series of motions at Toronto City Council have taken away all of the mayor’s non-statutory powers.

Coup d'etat — A sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government.

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Both Ford and his brother compared council’s motions to a coup d’etat. Ford explained his definition of the term in council on Monday:

“This is nothing more than a coup d’etat. And if you don’t know what a coup d’etat means, it means that you’re overruling a government. And some people said this is a democracy. What’s happening here today is not a democratic process, it’s a dictatorship process.”

Kuwait — A small, oil-rich Middle Eastern country.

Mayor Ford compared council’s action to strip him of most of his budget, power and staff to the 1990 invasion of Kuwait, when Iraqi forces were routed by an international coalition. Here’s exactly what Ford said:

“This folks, reminds me of when I was watching with my brother when Saddam (Hussein) attacked Kuwait. And President Bush said, ‘I warn you, I warn you, I warn you, do not.’ Well, folks, if you think American-style politics is nasty, you guys have just attacked Kuwait … Mark my words, friends, this is going to be outright war in this next election.”

Stay — A suspension of execution or a suspension of proceedings granted by a judge.

Ford may seek a legal stay on council’s motions limiting his power. This would allow him to keep all the powers, staff and budget taken from him until he has a chance to argue they’re illegal in a lawsuit.

Rumbustious — Boisterous or unruly.

The word was used by CNN’s Piers Morgan last night to describe the mayor, its proper context.

Pustule — Small bumps on the skin filled with fluid or pus.

The term was used by an expert to describe the Ford political experience:

“Remember this night. Either a new low or a new beginning in Canadian politics,” said Robin Sears, of Earnscliffe Strategy Group. “I remain hopeful this political pustule will explode and fade.”

Ford Nation — About 20 per cent of Toronto’s population that will vote for Ford no matter what.

Ipsos pollsters say they’re most likely to earn less than $60,000 per year and to not have a high school diploma.

Ford Nation is also the name of the Ford brothers’ now-defunct television show on Sun News Network that was cancelled after its first episode.