Definition: (noun) The umbrellalike fruiting structure forming the top of a stalked fleshy fungus, such as a mushroom; the cap.
Synonyms: cap.
Usage: The recipe instructs the chef to separate the pileus from the stalk, presumably because the former adds more flavor to the dish.
Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
During World War II, Japanese prisoners of war at a camp near Cowra, Australia, orchestrated one of the largest prison escapes of the war. Armed only with makeshift weapons, hundreds of Japanese prisoners stormed the machine gun posts and overwhelmed the guards. Some prisoners, rather than escaping, attempted or committed suicide, or were killed by fellow soldiers. The breakout resulted in the deaths of four Australian soldiers and 231 Japanese prisoners. How many managed to escape? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Formerly called Upper Volta, Burkina Faso gained independence from France on August 5, 1960, an event commemorated as a national holiday each year. The area had been a French protectorate since the 1890s. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Known as “The Elephant Man,” Merrick was an Englishman who suffered from a severely disfiguring disease, mistakenly thought to have been elephantiasis, that caused growths all over his skin and bone surfaces and made it difficult for him to walk and speak. He escaped from a workhouse at 21 to join a freak show, where he was discovered by a physician who later admitted him to London Hospital. He was cared for there until his death at age 27. What rare syndrome likely caused his deformities? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Established in 1947, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an independent executive bureau of the US government. Its primary function is obtaining and analyzing information about foreign governments, corporations, and persons, and reporting such information to the various branches of government. Congress placed restraints on its activities in the early 1970s, when reports that it had engaged in assassinations and domestic spying surfaced. How was CIA involved in the Watergate scandal? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Definition: (noun) A person having a strong liking for something.
Synonyms: enthusiast.
Usage: I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a better grown goose.
Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
In 1258, English nobleman Simon de Montfort joined other barons in forcing King Henry III to accept the Provisions of Oxford—often considered England’s first written constitution—which limited the power of the monarchy. When Henry renounced the Provisions, Montfort led a force against him, defeating the royalist army at the Battle of Lewes and becoming England’s de facto ruler. Less than a year later, he was killed by Henry’s son Edward at the Battle of Evesham. What happened to his body? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Nebuta Matsuri, the main festival of Aomori Prefecture in Japan, features processions of huge, elaborately painted papier-mâché figures called nebuta. In the capital city of Aomori, the nebuta figures, up to 49 feet wide and 26 feet high, depict ferociously scowling samurai warriors. Illuminated from within by candles, they glow as they are carried through the streets at nightfall. Spectators wear hats made of flowers and dance in the streets. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
In 1835, Vuitton moved to Paris, where he became an apprentice malletier, or trunk-maker, crafting luggage for the French aristocracy. In 1854, he founded the company that would become a worldwide fashion icon. By 1885, the company had opened its first store in London. He introduced a line of innovative traveling trunks, and his designs soon became the subjects of widespread imitation—a trend that continues even today. What percent of the items bearing the Louis Vuitton monogram are counterfeit? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina and its largest city and port. Located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of South America, it is the most heavily industrialized city of Argentina. It is a major food-processing center with huge meatpacking plants. It was first settled in the 16th century and was subordinate to the Spanish Viceroy of Peru. The criollo citizens of Buenos Aires successfully ousted the Spanish Viceroy in what year? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary