Month: February 2021

shout

hue and cry – Somewhat redundant, as hue means “shout, make an outcry”; hue and cry was a medieval law requiring that all citizens within earshot give chase to a fleeing criminal. More…

jubilate – From a Latin word meaning “shout for joy.” More…

slogan – From Scottish-Gaelic slaugh, “army,” and gairm, “shout”—since the first slogans were actually battle cries. More…

claim – The etymological notion behind claim is “calling out,” from Latin clamare, “cry out, shout.” More…

Taxi-Dance Hall

Throughout the 1920s and 30s, taxi-dance halls flourished in American cities, despite their reputation for fostering lewd behavior. At a typical hall, men would buy tickets—usually for 10 cents each—that they could present to the hall’s young female employees in exchange for sharing a dance. The women, called taxi-dancers, earned a commission based on the number of tickets they collected. The taxi-dance hall was created in 1913 when San Francisco outlawed what other kind of dance hall? Discuss

The Slow Loris

With gradual, quiet movements, the aptly-named slow loris adeptly creeps up on its insect prey. However, the unhurried pace and adorable appearance of the small, wide-eyed primate make it a prime target for the exotic—and illegal—pet trade. Though lorises are venomous—they are known to slather their young in toxic saliva for protection—traders minimize the danger they pose to owners by removing their teeth. What unusual loris-derived food product is used for pain relief in traditional medicine? Discuss