Happy Wednesday — it’s time for some new words! You know how this works – share a few words from your current book that you had to look up, then head over to Bermuda Onion’s Weblog to learn some new ones.
This week, my first words are from No Mark upon Her: A Novel
1. Primus – a portable paraffin cooking stove, used by campers
“The single space provided him with a workshop, a camp bed, a woodstove, a primus, and a primitive toilet and shower.”
2. Nystagmus – uncontrollable and rapid movement of the eyeball in any direction
“Kieran, you’ve got nystagmus. Have you been drinking?”
3. Nobble – to disable (a racehorse), especially by drugging
“‘Do you know how easy it is to nobble a rower before a race,’ she’d asked.”
4. Squash – (British) a still drink made with fruit juice or fruit syrup diluted with water
“The guys weren’t supposed to be drinking, it was all squash and lemonade and everyone on the very proper sportsmanlike up-and-up, with some fancy canapes to make up for the lack of alcohol.”
Squash was really interesting – I love it when I find a new definition for a common word! What new words did YOU learn this week?