How many times have you pointed under your nose and said “This thingy”? How many times have you looked at the wrapping around a coffee cup and said, “I need another of these whatchamacallits”? How many things do you think go by the word “Whuzzit”? Well, once you finish reading the following list you’ll know the names of so many everyday but unusual items that you’ll be prepared for any truly bizarre English pop quiz…
Vagitus
The crying of a newborn baby. Try using that word with family at the dinner table or in public, perhaps while shouting it. Let us know how that works out for you.
Mondegreen
The mishearing of a song lyric, resulting in you at a karaoke bar belting out the Bon Jovi line, “We've gotta hold on to what we've got/It doesn't make a difference if we’re naked or not.”
Zarf
The cardboard sleeve around a hot cup of coffee. Or the name of every single sci-fi alien character you created when you were five.
Minimus
The pinky toe or pinky finger. The names for the other four toes or fingers are John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
Overmorrow
The day after tomorrow, resulting in a disaster movie title that was well on its way to selling six tickets total before it was changed.
Punt
The dent at the bottom of a bottle of wine. Use that word often to impress wine snobs. Then when you drink the wine say, “This tastes punty.” Then wonder why you’re not invited back to formal parties.
Philtrum
The groove between your nose and the middle of your upper lip. Some scientists believe that groove was created to hold loose change. Those scientists don’t get funding or even have degrees.
Aglet
The clear plastic tube at the end of a shoelace. The holes you string the shoelace through are called “eyelets.” The part where you place your toes is called the “toe box.” The act if lacing up a sneaker is called “florking.” That last one might have been made up for this article.
Bruxism
The involuntary grinding of your teeth while you sleep, sometimes as a result of dreaming about eating delicious rocks.
Lunule
The white crescent moon part of your fingernail. The black gunk that gets caught under the lunule is called “proof you need to wash your hands more or at least stop clawing at chocolate cake.”
Ferrule
The metal ring that connects the eraser to the rest of the pencil. Without it the eraser would fall off and the only way to correct your mistakes would be to scratch them out or eat the entire math test before the teacher sees it.
Phosphenes
The spots of light you see when you squeeze your eyes shut and apply direct pressure on them with your hands. You’re doing that right now, aren’t you? You don’t know that we just asked if you’re doing that right now because you’re doing that right now, aren’t you? Well, so are we.
I don’t always understand words… do you? Let us know in the comments below!
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