stogie, stogy – A stogie (or stogy) is named for the Conestoga wagon—as drivers of the wagons rolled tobacco into thin ropes for smoking on long trips; stogies are now long, thin cigars. More…
cigar – Comes from Spanish cigarro, from the Mayan verb sik’ar, “to smoke” or “smoking.” More…
dottle – Any tobacco left in a pipe after smoking. More…
pipe dream – Originated with opium smoking. More…
The ancient Roman fertility goddess Ops was known by several different names—among them Rhea, Cybele, Bona Dea, Magna Mater, Thya, and Tellus. She married Saturn and was the mother of Jupiter. She is usually portrayed as a matron, with a loaf of bread in her left hand and her right hand opened as if offering assistance. Not much is known about what actually took place during the Opalia, but it appears that women played an important role in the festival. Because Ops was a fertility goddess, she was often invoked by touching the earth. Discuss
A business, possession, or other financial commitment that requires or consumes an increasingly large amount of money, especially more than was first anticipated. Watch the video
On February 12, 1908, six cars representing four nations—Germany, France, Italy, and the US—embarked on an automobile race from New York City to Paris. The challenge was daunting enough given the newness of the automobile and the unpaved nature—or nonexistence—of many roads, but the months-long journey also had to be re-routed at times due to impassable conditions. Only three cars managed to complete the race. The Germans reached Paris first, but the US team was declared the winner. Why? Discuss
ginnel – A long narrow passage between houses. More…
row house – Part of an unbroken line or series of houses. More…
domal – Means of or pertaining to a house or houses. More…
vicinal, vicinity – Vicinal, from Latin vicus, “group of houses,” means “of or pertaining to a neighborhood”—hence, vicinity. More…
The criminal act or practice of processing large amounts of money obtained through illegitimate or illegal means, often in small increments through banks or other legitimate businesses, so as to conceal its source or origins. Watch the video
Though similar to crocodiles in appearance and behavior, Ambulocetus was actually an early cetacean—a member of the mammalian order that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. However, unlike today’s cetaceans, Ambulocetus had legs and so could walk as well as swim. These and other key adaptations of the “walking whale” have helped scientists piece together the way in which whales evolved from land mammals. Ambulocetus lived 50 million years ago in what part of the world? Discuss
bags of mystery – Slang for sausage. More…
mystery – Traces back to Greek mustikos, “secret,” and musterion, “secret rites”; the lesser-known meaning of mystery as “handicraft; art” is part of the phrase “mystery play.” More…
mystify – Derived from mystery or mystic. More…
rune – An ancient alphabet letter, it is from Old English run, “secret, mystery.” More…