aa a kind of volcanic lava that forms jagged masses with a light frothy texture; in an unrelated sense (‘a stream’) aa is the first entry in the Oxford English Dictionary

abaya a full-length, sleeveless outer garment worn by Arabs

abomasum the fourth stomach of a ruminant, such as a cow or sheep

absquatulate to leave somewhere abruptly

adscititious additional

afreet a powerful jinn or demon in Arabian and Muslim mythology

Albertopolis a group of museums and other cultural institutions in South Kensington in London, named after Prince Albert

alcazar a Spanish palace or fortress

amphibology a phrase or sentence that is grammatically ambiguous, such asShe sees more of her children than her husband

amphisbaena a mythical serpent with a head at each end

anfractuous winding or circuitous

anguilliform resembling an eel

apoptosis the death of cells which occurs as a normal part of an organism's growth or development

apple-knocker US informal an ignorant or unsophisticated person

argle-bargle copious but meaningless talk or writing

Argus-eyed vigilant, referring to Argos, a Greek mythological watchman with a hundred eyes

argute shrewd

ariel a gazelle found in the Middle East and North Africa

aristotle Austral. rhyming slang a bottle

aspergillum an implement used for sprinkling holy water in religious ceremonies

astrobleme an eroded remnant of a large, ancient crater made by the impact of a meteorite or comet

Attic salt refined, incisive wit

autotomy the casting off of a limb or other part of the body by an animal under threat, such as a lizard

badmash Indian a hooligan

bandoline a sticky preparation used for setting hair

bardolatry humorous excessive admiration of Shakespeare (‘the Bard of Avon’)

Barmecide illusory or imaginary and therefore disappointing

barn burner N. Amer. a very exciting or dramatic event, especially a sports contest; first used of an exceptionally good hand at bridge.

bashment W. Indian a large party or dance

bawbee Scottish a coin of low value

benthos the flora and fauna on the bottom of a sea or lake

bergschrund a type of crevasse

bezoar a small hard, solid mass which may form in the stomachs of animals such as goats or sheep

bibliopole a person who buys and sells books, especially rare ones

bichon frise a breed of toy dog with a fine, curly white coat

bilboes an iron bar with sliding shackles, used to fasten prisoners' ankles

bindlestiff N. Amer. a tramp

bingle Austral. informal a collision

blatherskite a person who talks at great length without making much sense

bleeding edge the very forefront of technological development

blind pig N. Amer. informal a place where alcoholic drinks are sold illegally

bobsy-die a great deal of fuss or trouble

boffola N. Amer. informal a joke that gets a loud or hearty laugh

boilover Austral. informal a surprise result in a sporting event

borborygmus a rumbling or gurgling noise in the intestines

breatharian a person who believes that it is possible, through meditation, to reach a level of consciousness where one can exist on air alone

Brobdingnagian gigantic, from Brobdingnag, a country in Jonathan Swift'sGulliver's Travels

bruxism involuntary and habitual grinding of the teeth

bumbo a drink of rum, sugar, water, and nutmeg

burnsides a moustache in combination with whiskers on the cheeks but no beard on the chin

cacoethes an urge to do something inadvisable

callipygian having shapely buttocks

callithumpian like a discordant band or a noisy parade

camisado a military attack carried out at night

canorous melodious or resonant

cantillate to chant or intone a passage of religious text

carphology convulsive or involuntary movements made by delirious patients, such as plucking at the bedclothes

catoptromancy foretelling the future by means of a mirror

cereology the study or investigation of crop circles

cerulean deep sky blue

chad a piece of waste paper produced by punching a hole

chalkdown S. African informal a teachers' strike

chanticleer a rooster in a fairy tale

chiliad a thousand things or a thousand years

chump change N. Amer. informal a small or insignificant sum of money

claggy Brit. dialect sticky or able to form sticky lumps

clepsydra an early clock using the flow of water into or out of a container

colporteur a person who peddles books, newspapers, or other writings, especially bibles and religious tracts

comess W. Indian a confused or noisy situation

commensalism an association between two organisms in which one benefits from the relationship and the other derives neither harm nor benefit

comminatory threatening, punitive, or vengeful

concinnity elegance or neatness of literary or artistic style

congius an ancient Roman liquid measure equal in modern terms to about 6 imperial pints

conniption (or conniption fit) N. Amer. informal a fit of rage or hysterics

constellate to gather together in a cluster or group

coprolalia the involuntary repetitive use of obscene language

coriaceous like leather

couthy Scottish (of a person) warm and friendly; (of a place) cosy and comfortable

criticaster a minor or incompetent critic

crore Indian ten million

crottle a lichen used in Scotland to make a brownish dye for wool

croze a groove at the end of a cask or barrel in which the head is fixed

cryptozoology the search for and study of animals whose existence is unproven, such as the Loch Ness monster and the yeti

cudbear a purple or violet powder used for dyeing, made from lichen

cupreous of or like copper

cyanic blue; azure

cybersquatting the practice of registering well-known names as Internet domain names, in the hope of reselling them at a profit

dariole a small round metal mould used in French cooking for an individual sweet or savoury dish

deasil clockwise or in the direction of the sun's course

decubitus Medicine the posture of someone who is lying down or lying in bed

deedy industrious or effective

defervescence Medicine the lessening of a fever

deglutition the action or process of swallowing

degust to taste food or drink carefully, so as to fully appreciate it

deipnosophist a person skilled in the art of dining and dinner-table conversation

deracinate to tear something up by the roots

deterge to cleanse something thoroughly

didi Indian an older sister or female cousin

digerati people with expertise or professional involvement in information technology

dight clothed or equipped; also, to make something ready for use

discobolus a discus thrower in ancient Greece

disembogue to emerge or pour out (used of a river or stream)

disenthral to set someone free from enslavement

divagate to stray or digress

divaricate to stretch or spread apart

donkey engine a small auxiliary engine on a ship

donkeyman a man working in a ship's engine room

doryphore a pedantic and annoyingly persistent critic of others

dotish W. Indian stupid or silly

douceur a financial inducement or bribe

draff dregs or refuse

dragoman an interpreter or professional guide for travellers, especially one in countries in which Arabic, Turkish, or Persian is spoken

dumbsize to reduce the staff numbers of a company to such low levels that work can no longer be carried out effectively

dwaal S. African a dreamy, dazed, or absent-minded state

ecdysiast a striptease performer

edacious having to do with eating or fond of eating

effable able to be described in words. Its opposite, ineffable, is more widely used.

emacity fondness for buying things

emmetropia the normal condition of the eye: perfect vision

empasm a perfumed powder sprinkled on the body to prevent sweating or for medicinal purposes

ensorcell to enchant or fascinate someone

entomophagy the eating of insects, especially by people

erf S. African a plot of land

ergometer an apparatus which measures energy expended during physical exercise

erubescent reddening or blushing

e-tailer a retailer who sells goods on the Internet

etui a small ornamental case for holding needles, cosmetics, and other articles

eucatastrophe a happy ending to a story

eurhythmic in harmonious proportion

eviternity eternal existence or everlasting duration

exequies funeral rites

exsanguine bloodless or anaemic

extramundane outside or beyond the physical world

eye candy visual images that are superficially attractive and entertaining but intellectually undemanding

eyewater W. Indian tears

famulus an assistant or attendant, especially one working for a magician or scholar

fankle Scottish to tangle or entangle something

fipple the mouthpiece of a recorder or similar wind instrument

flatline to die

flews the thick pendulous lips of a bloodhound or similar dog

floccinaucinihilipilification the action or habit of estimating something as worthless (a word generally only quoted as a curiosity)

flocculent having or resembling tufts of wool

force-ripe West Indian old or mature in certain respects without having developed fully in others

forehanded chiefly N. Amer. prudent or thrifty

frondeur a political rebel

fugacious transient or fleeting

funambulist a tightrope walker

furuncle a boil

fuscous dark and sombre in colour

futhark the Scandinavian runic alphabet

futz to waste time or busy oneself aimlessly

gaberlunzie Scottish archaic a beggar

gaita a kind of bagpipe played in northern Spain and Portugal

galligaskins a type of loose breeches worn in the 16th and 17th centuries

gallus Scottish bold or daring

gasconade extravagant boasting

glabrous (of skin) hairless or (of a leaf) having no down

glaikit Scottish & N. English stupid, foolish, or thoughtless

gnathic having to do with the jaws

gobemouche a gullible or credulous listener

goodfella a gangster, especially a member of a Mafia family

guddle Scottish to fish with one's hands by groping under the stones or banks of a stream

habile deft or skilful

hallux Anatomy the big toe

haruspex a religious official in ancient Rome who inspected the entrails of sacrificial animals in order to foretell the future

higgler W. Indian a person who travels from place to place selling small items

hinky US informal dishonest, suspect, or unreliable

hoddy-noddy a foolish person

hodiernal of today

hoggin a mixture of sand and gravel, used especially in road-building

hongi a traditional Maori greeting or salutation made by pressing or touching noses

howff Scottish a favourite meeting place or haunt, especially a pub

humdudgeon an imaginary illness

hunt-and-peck using only one or two fingers on a computer keyboard

hwyl a stirring feeling of emotional motivation and energy which is associated with the Welsh people

illywhacker Austral. informal a small-time confidence trickster

incrassate thickened in form or consistency

incunabula books printed before 1501

ingurgitate to swallow something greedily

inspissate to thicken or congeal

inunct to apply ointment to someone or something

jumbuck Austral. informal a sheep

jumentous resembling horse's urine

jungli Indian uncultured or wild

karateka a person who performs karate

keek Scottish to peep surreptitiously

kenspeckle Scottish conspicuous or easily recognizable

kinnikinnick a substance consisting of dried sumac leaves and willow or dogwood bark, smoked by North American Indians

kylie Austral. a boomerang

labarum a banner or flag bearing symbolic motifs

lablab a tropical Asian plant of the pea family

lactarium a dairy

liripipe the long dangling tail of a medieval academic hood

loblolly a North American pine tree with very long slender needles

lobola among southern African peoples, the money or cattle given by a bridegroom's family to the bride's family

logomachy an argument about words

lollygag to spend time in an aimless or lazy way

luculent (of speech or writing) clearly expressed

lycanthropy the supernatural transformation of a person into a wolf

macushla Irish an affectionate form of address

mallam a learned man or scribe in Nigeria and other parts of Africa

mamaguy W. Indian to try to deceive someone by flattering them or telling them lies

martlet Heraldry a small, swallow-like bird with tufts of feathers in place of legs and feet

mazel tov a Jewish expression used to congratulate someone or wish them good luck

meacock a coward or effeminate person

merkin an artificial covering of hair for the pubic area

merrythought a bird's wishbone

mim Scottish modest or demure in an affected or priggish way

mimsy rather feeble and prim or over-restrained (coined by Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking Glass)

minacious menacing or threatening

minibeast Brit. informal a small invertebrate animal such as an insect or spider

misogamy the hatred of marriage

mistigris a joker or other extra card played as a wild card in some versions of poker

mixologist N. Amer. informal a person who is skilled at mixing cocktails and other drinks

mollitious luxurious or sensuous

momism excessive attachment to or domination by one's mother

monkey's wedding S. African simultaneous rain and sunshine

monorchid having only one testicle

moonraker a native of the county of Wiltshire

mouse potato a person who spends large amounts of their leisure or working time on a computer

mudlark a person who scavenges in riverside mud at low tide for anything of value

muktuk the skin and blubber of a whale, eaten by the Inuit people

mumpsimus a traditional custom or notion that is adhered to although it has been shown to be unreasonable

nacarat a bright orange-red colour

nagware computer software which is free for a trial period and thereafter frequently reminds the user to pay for it

nainsook a fine, soft cotton fabric, originally made in the Indian subcontinent

natation swimming

nesh Brit. dialect weak, delicate, or feeble

netizen a habitual or keen user of the Internet

noctambulist a sleepwalker

noyade an execution carried out by drowning

nugacity triviality or frivolity

nympholepsy passion or rapture aroused in men by beautiful young girls

obnubilate to darken, dim, or obscure something

ogdoad a group or set of eight

omophagy the eating of raw food, especially meat

omphalos the centre or hub of something

onolatry the worship of donkeys or asses

o-o an endangered Hawaiian bird, a species of honeyeater

operose involving or displaying a lot of effort

opsimath a person who begins to learn or study late in life

orectic having to do with desire or appetite

orrery a clockwork model of the solar system, or the sun, earth, and moon

ortanique a cross between an orange and a tangerine

otalgia earache

oxter Scottish & N. English a person's armpit

paludal living or occurring in a marshy habitat

Pantagruelian enormous

panurgic able or ready to do anything

parapente an aerofoil parachute, used for gliding

paraph a flourish after a signature

patulous (of the boughs of a tree, for example) spreading

pavonine to do with or resembling a peacock

pedicular to do with lice

peely-wally Scottish looking pale and unwell

peever Scottish hopscotch

periapt an item worn as a charm or amulet

petcock a small valve in a steam engine or boiler, used for drainage or for reducing pressure

peterman a person who breaks open and robs safes

pettitoes pig's trotters, especially as food

piacular making or requiring atonement

pilgarlic a bald-headed man, or a person regarded with mild contempt

pinguid resembling fat; oily or greasy

piscatorial connected with fishermen or fishing

pleurodynia severe pain in the muscles between the ribs or in the diaphragm

plew a beaver skin

pneumonoul­tramicrosc­opicsilico­volcanocon­iosis an invented term said to mean ‘a lung disease caused by inhaling very fine ash and sand dust’, but rarely used except for its curiosity value

pogey Canadian informal unemployment or welfare benefit

pollex Anatomy the thumb

pooter a suction bottle for collecting insects and other small invertebrates

portolan a book containing sailing directions with hand-drawn charts and descriptions of harbours and coasts

posology the branch of medicine concerned with the size and frequency of doses of a medicine or a drug

possident a possessor, i.e. a person who owns something

pother a commotion or fuss

presenteeism the compulsion to spend longer at work than is required or to continue working despite illness

previse to foresee or predict an event

probang a strip of flexible material with a sponge or tuft at the end, used to remove a foreign body from the throat or to apply medication to it

prosopagnosia an inability to recognize the faces of familiar people, typically as a result of brain damage

puddle jumper a small, light aircraft which is fast and highly manoeuvrable and used for short trips

puddysticks S. African children's word very easy

pyknic a technical description of a stocky physique with a rounded body and head, thickset trunk, and a tendency to fat

pyroclastic relating to fragments of rock erupted by a volcano

ragtop a convertible car with a soft roof

ratite (of a bird such as the ostrich or emu) unable to fly because of having a flat breastbone, to which no flight muscles are attached

rawky foggy, damp, and cold

razzia a raid carried out by Moors in North Africa

rebirthing a form of therapy involving controlled breathing and intended to simulate the trauma of being born

resurrection man a person who, in past times, illicitly exhumed corpses from burial grounds and sold them to anatomists for dissection

retiform resembling a net

rhinoplasty plastic surgery performed on the nose

rubricate to add elaborate capital letters (typically red ones) or other decorations to a manuscript

rude boy Jamaican a lawless or rebellious unemployed urban youth who likes ska or reggae music

rug rat N. Amer. a child

rumpot N. Amer. a habitual or heavy drinker

sangoma a traditional healer or witch doctor in southern Africa

sarmie S. African informal a sandwich

saucier a sauce chef

saudade a feeling of longing or melancholy that is supposedly characteristic of the Portuguese or Brazilian temperament

scofflaw a person who flouts the law

screenager a person in their teens or twenties who has an aptitude for using computers and the Internet

scrippage one's baggage and personal belongings

selkie Scottish a mythical sea creature like a seal in water but human on land

serac a pinnacle or ridge of ice on the surface of a glacier

sesquipedalian (of a word) having many syllables or (of a piece of writing) using many long words

shallop a light sailing boat used chiefly for coastal fishing

shamal a hot, dry north-westerly wind that blows across the Persian Gulf in summer and causes sandstorms

shavetail US military slang a newly commissioned officer, or any inexperienced person

shippon Brit. dialect a cattle shed

shofar a ram's-horn trumpet used in Jewish religious ceremonies and, in ancient times, to sound a battle signal

skanky N. Amer. informal revolting

skelf Scottish a splinter or sliver of wood

skimmington a kind of procession once undertaken to make an example of a nagging wife or an unfaithful husband

skycap a porter at an airport

snakebitten N. Amer. informal unlucky or doomed to misfortune

snollygoster a shrewd or unprincipled person

sockdolager US informal a heavy blow

solander a protective box made in the form of a book, for holding items such as botanical specimens, maps, and colour plates

soucouyant a kind of witch, in eastern Caribbean folklore, who is believed to shed her skin by night and suck the blood of her victims

soul case N. Amer. & W. Indian the human body

soul catcher a hollowed bone tube used by a North American Indian medicine man to keep a sick person's soul safe while they are sick

spaghettification the process by which (in some theories) an object would be stretched and ripped apart by gravitational forces on falling into a black hole

spitchcock an eel, split and then grilled or fried

splanchnic having to do with the the viscera or internal organs, especially those of the abdomen

spurrier a person who makes spurs

stercoraceous consisting of or resembling dung or faeces

sternutator something that causes sneezing

stiction the frictional force which hinders an object from being moved while in contact with another

strappado a punishment or torture in which the victim was hoisted in the air on a rope and then allowed to fall almost to the ground before being stopped with an abrupt jerk

strigil an instrument with a curved blade used by ancient Greeks and Romans to scrape sweat and dirt from the skin in a hot-air bath or after exercise

struthious having to do with or resembling an ostrich

studmuffin N. Amer. humorous a sexually attractive, muscular man

stylite a early Christian ascetic who lived standing on top of a pillar

subfusc the dark formal clothing worn for examinations and ceremonial or formal occasions at some universities.

submontane passing under or through mountains, or situated on the lower slopes of a mountain range

succuss to shake something vigorously, especially a homeopathic remedy

sudd an area of floating vegetation that impedes navigation in a stretch of the White Nile

suedehead a youth like a skinhead but with slightly longer hair and smarter clothes

sun-grazing (of a comet) having an orbit which passes close to the sun

superbious proud and overbearing

superette N. Amer. a small supermarket

taniwha a mythical monster which, according to Maori legend, lives in very deep water

tappen the plug by which the rectum of a bear is closed during hibernation

tellurian of or inhabiting the earth, or an inhabitant of the earth

testudo a device used in siege warfare in ancient Rome, consisting of a wheeled screen with an arched roof (literally a ‘tortoise’)

thalassic relating to the sea

thaumatrope a scientific toy devised in the 19th century. It consisted of a disc with a different picture on each of its two sides: when the disc was rotated rapidly about a diameter, these pictures appeared to combine into one image.

thirstland S. African a desert or large arid area

thrutch N. English a narrow gorge or ravine

thurifer a person carrying a censer, or thurible, of burning incense during religious ceremonies

tiffin chiefly Indian a light meal, especially lunch

tigon the hybrid off spring of a male tiger and a lioness (the offspring of a male lion and a tigress being a liger)

tokoloshe in African folklore, a mischievous and lascivious hairy water sprite

toplofty N. Amer. informal haughty and arrogant

transpicuous transparent

triskaidekaphobia extreme superstition about the number thirteen

triskelion a Celtic symbol consisting of three radiating legs or curved lines, such as the emblem of the Isle of Man

tsantsa a human head shrunk as a war trophy by the Jivaro people of Ecuador

turbary the legal right to cut turf or peat for fuel on common ground or on another person's ground

ulu a short-handled knife with a broad crescent-shaped blade, used by Inuit women.

umbriferous shady

uncinate (of a part of the body) having a hooked shape

uniped a person or animal with only one foot or leg

uroboros a circular symbol depicting a snake (or a dragon) swallowing its tail, intended as an emblem of wholeness or infinity

ustad Indian an expert or highly skilled person, especially a musician

vagarious erratic and unpredictable in behaviour or direction

velleity a wish or inclination which is not strong enough to lead one to take action

verjuice a sour juice obtained from crab apples or unripe grapes

vicinal neighbouring or adjacent

vidiot N. Amer. informal a habitual, undiscriminating watcher of television or videotapes

vomitous N. Amer. nauseating or repulsive

wabbit Scottish exhausted or slightly unwell

waitron N. Amer. a waiter or waitress

wakeboarding the sport of riding on a short, wide board while being towed behind a motor boat

wayzgoose an annual summer party and outing that used to be held by a printing house for all its employees

winebibber a heavy drinker

wish book N. Amer. informal a mail-order catalogue

wittol a man who knows of and tolerates his wife's infidelity

woopie an affluent retired person able to pursue an active lifestyle (from the initials of well-off older person)

wowser chiefly Austral./NZ a puritanical, prudish person or a killjoy

xenology the scientific study of extraterrestrial phenomena

ylem (in big bang theory) the primordial matter of the universe

zetetic proceeding by inquiry or investigation

zoolatry the worship of animals

zopissa a medicinal preparation made from wax and pitch scraped from the sides of ships

zorro a South American kind of fox