Wondrous Words Wednesday

I came across this meme just a few days ago, and it seemed perfect for me. I'm becoming more and more intrigued by new and unusual words. I still remember finding amanuensis in Dickens's Bleak House a few years ago. I'm rather thrilled that not only have I remembered the word, but I've also remembered the meaning and even used it in conversation more than once.

What new words have I found recently? My favourite new word of the last week was barbotage. It came up in conversation at work, not in reading, but it's still a great word. It's always vaguely embarrassing to find a new medical word that I don't know, and I particularly like that it's from the French.

bar·bo·tage (bärb-täzh)

n.

The production of spinal anesthesia in which a portion of the anesthetic solution is injected into the cerebral spinal fluid, which is then aspirated into the syringe and a second portion of the contents of the syringe is injected. The partial reinjections and aspirations are repeated until the contents of the syringe are used.

The New York Times has weighed in on what it sees as the most important new words of 2010. New words are usually disappointing and puerile. Star whacker and robo-signer being typical examples. Although vuvuzela is a fun word, but of course the sound of one is abysmal. And I must say I hadn't heard belieber, but I think that's funny. Shellacking I see as non-noteworthy, I presume that it must be of rarer usage in America.