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The Allusionist

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BY HELEN ZALTZMAN

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The Allusionist

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Allusionist 35: Word of the Day - transcript

April 29, 2016 The Allusionist

RH: People like words that sound silly. Compound words that have a lot of elements to them, like ‘catawampus’ - people are always going to love ‘catawampus’, and I think it’s just how it sounds, those Lewis Carroll-esque words that are just fun to say. We recently did ‘waffle stompers’, it’s just one of those words that has that je ne sais quoi, so silly you know you’re going to get a rise out of people. In a good way. Waffle stompers are hiking boots. Why would you ever say ‘hiking boots’ again?
JS: We had a lot of cat words.
RH: I don’t know if it was a lot, but we’re not afraid to pander occasionally.
JS: The internet loves cats…

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In transcript Tags dictionary, dictionaries, lexicology, lexicography, lexicographers, words, etymology, Word of the Day, dictionary.com, Jane Solomon, Renae Hurlbutt
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