“Honestly, I’ve never heard such poppycock in all my life.” 11. Despite sounding extremely British, it was first used in America during the 19th century and likely stems from the Dutch word ‘pappekak’ (‘soft faeces’). Logic would dictate that the word ‘poppycock’ would have something to do with either poppies or cockerels, but it is actually an informal word that essentially means ‘nonsense’. “I always thought John was a bit of a nincompoop, but this latest episode confirms it.” 10. Its origins are debated, but the most likely explanation is that it is derived from the Latin ‘non compos mentis’ (‘not of sound mind’). It has been in use since the 1600s and was very popular during the 1950s and 1960s. The word ‘nincompoop’ is mostly used for comedy effect, specifically to describe somebody who is ‘foolish’ or ‘stupid’. “The rugby team’s natural talent and collective kakorrhaphiophobia helped them to a lengthy undefeated streak.” 9. However, the word is seldom used, which is just as well, as it is one of the most challenging English words to spell correctly. In fact, it refers to ‘the fear of failure’, especially when that fear becomes irrational, intense or abnormal. “The man could not concentrate on his work due to the hullabaloo going on outside.”Īs you can probably tell from the ‘phobia’ suffix, the word ‘Kakorrhaphiophobia’ is used to describe a fear. Usage of the word dates back to the mid 1700s and is believed to have partially stemmed from the old Scots word ‘baloo’, which translates to ‘lullaby’. Generally speaking, it suggests there is a level of confusion or even aggression and it usually causes some sort of disturbance. ‘Hullabaloo’ is a word used to mean ‘a commotion or noisy situation’. “Katie did well to make such a delicious meal out of the hodgepodge of ingredients she had left over.” 7. However, in most cases, the term is used to describe a confusing or haphazard mixture, which appears disorderly. In its most basic sense, it refers to ‘a mixture of different things’. The word ‘hodgepodge’ is believed to have originated in North America and is essentially a direct variation of the British word ‘hotchpotch’. “I tried to read the report, but it was full of gobbledygook.” 6. One potential synonym for this word would be ‘gibberish’. It refers to ‘speech or writing that is difficult to understand’ and often describes technical jargon. “My favorite dessert is chocolate cake with a dollop of ice cream on the side.”īelieved to originate from the United States in the 1940s, the word ‘Gobbledygook’ is likely to have been taken from the ‘gobble’ noise made by a turkey. As such, it can be used in place of words like ‘lump’ or ‘blob’. It refers to a ‘shapeless mass’ and in the context of food usually means the addition of something in a casual manner, without measuring it or placing it carefully. This funny English word is often used when talking about certain types of food, such as ice cream or jam. “Jill became interested in cryptozoology after watching a documentary about Big Foot sightings.” 4. The word itself has a Greek origin, with ‘crypto’ coming from the Greek word ‘kryptos’ (‘hidden’), and ‘zoology’ coming from Ancient Greek and meaning ‘the study of animals’. ‘Cryptozoology’ refers to the study of animals that have not yet been proven to exist, with popular examples including Big Foot and the Loch Ness Monster. “The football team’s manager set out to bumfuzzle the opposition.” 3. Nevertheless, use of the word ‘bumfuzzle’ is extremely rare. According to Marriam-Webster, the second part of the word was likely altered, giving us ‘dumbfuzzle’, before the first part was also adjusted. BumfuzzleĪnother way of saying ‘confuse’ or ‘perplex’, this strange-sounding word is believed to have originated from the word ‘dumbfound’. “The man observed some aa lava flowing down the side of the volcano.” 2. Although rarely used in everyday conversation, ‘aa’ is a term used more frequently by those who study geology. More specifically, it refers to ‘a block of lava with a rough or jagged surface’, and the word itself has an Hawaiian origin. The first word in many English dictionaries, ‘aa’ is a noun, which is used to describe a volcanic rock.
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