Language

Mouly (adj) moo-lee (Scots) Mean, stingy; greedy. Late Middle English (in an earlier sense). From…

Scarper (verb) ska-per (informal British) Run away. Mid 19th century probably from Italian scappare ‘to…

Echolocation (noun) ek-o-lo-kay-shun The location of objects by reflected sound, in particular that used by…

Straggler (noun) strag-ler A person in a group who becomes separated from the others, typically…

Chunderous (adj) chun-der-us (informal) (Aus) Affected with nausea; feeling inclined to vomit. 1960s from chunder…

Umpteen (cardinal number) ump-teen Indefinitely many; a lot of. Early 20th century humorous formation based…

Bioluminescence (noun) bi-o-loom-in-es-sens The biochemical emission of light by living organisms such as glow-worms and…

Axiomatic (adj) aks-ee-oh-mat-ik Self-evident or unquestionable. Late 18th century from Greek axiōmatikos, from axiōma ‘what…

Brunt (noun) br-unt The worst part or chief impact of a specified action. Late Middle…