Definition: (noun) A preparation, such as a shoe or stove polish, that is used to impart a black color.
Synonyms: shoe polish.
Usage: I let a bottle of blacking fall over his new dress, and he flew at me sword in hand, so that I was obliged to make my escape.
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Source: The Free Dictionary
An 11-year-old Illinois boy has become the youngest recipient of an artificial heart, which will help sustain his life until he gets a heart transplant match. Fox 32 Chicago reported that Jaheim Whigham was born with hypoplastic heart syndrome, wherein … Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
In 1848, the same year California became a part of the US, another major event in the state’s history occurred. While establishing a sawmill for John Sutter, James W. Marshall discovered gold and touched off the California gold rush. The gold-rush miners, known as forty-niners, came in droves, spurred by the promise of fabulous riches from the so-called Mother Lode, and San Francisco became a boom town. Why was Sutter disappointed when he discovered that gold had been found on his property? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
The winter season on the island of Bermuda brings on a schedule of performing arts events known as the Bermuda Festival, which began in 1976. Yehudi Menuhin was instrumental in organizing the first festival and performed on its 20th anniversary in 1996. Offerings include theater, dance, opera, classical, and modern music performances from around the world. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Belushi was an American comedian, actor, and musician. He started out with the Second City comedy troop in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois, in 1971, achieved national recognition in National Lampoon’s Lemmings in 1973, and joined Saturday Night Live as an original cast member in 1975. He also starred in several films, including Animal House and The Blues Brothers, before dying of a drug overdose in 1982. Who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for his death? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
When a fainting goat is startled, its external muscles freeze for about 10 seconds, causing it collapse as if in a faint. Older goats generally learn to spread their legs or lean against something when startled and remain standing during these episodes. The condition is caused by a hereditary genetic disorder called myotonia congenita, which disrupts the flow of chloride ions into skeletal muscle cells. What key aspect of human fainting does not happen to these goats? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
Definition: (noun) A dealer in men's furnishings.
Synonyms: clothier.
Usage: The young boy excitedly entered the haberdasher's shop, ready to purchase his first suit.
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Source: The Free Dictionary
NASA’s Curiosity rover has photographed shallow crevices on Mars that may have formed from ancient mud cracks, yet more evidence that the planet had a watery past. The photos, taken Dec. 20 and unveiled Tuesday (Jan. 17), show a site called “Old Soaker” on … Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a museum dedicated to archiving the history of rock music. It was created in 1983 but did not have a home until 1995, when it opened its Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, after civic leaders pledged $65 million in public money to fund its construction. The first group of inductees included Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, and James Brown, to name a few. What band inducted into the Hall in 2006 refused to attend the induction ceremony? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
These late-January festivities mark a highlight in the ceremonial year at San Ildefonso Pueblo near Santa Fe, New Mexico. January 23 is the pueblo’s feast day, celebrated with a special church service and dances, such as the Buffalo, Comanche, and Deer dances. The dances are a way of paying respect and giving thanks for the animals on which people depend for food and other materials. On the evening before, there are bonfires and a firelight procession. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary