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Word of the Day – Carbuncle

By March 20, 2021Word of the Day

Carbuncle (noun)

ka-bun-kl

A severe abscess or multiple boil in the skin, typically infected with staphylococcus bacteria.

A bright red gem, in particular a garnet cut en cabochon.

Middle English (in carbuncle (sense 2)): from Old French charbuncle, from Latin carbunculus ‘small coal’, from carbo ‘coal, charcoal’.

Example sentences

“His specialities were boils, cabuncles, and abscesses.”

“A huge gleaming carbuncle sat in the centre of the belt clip.”

Word of the Day – Medley

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Medley (noun) med-lee a mixture, especially of heterogeneous elements; hodgepodge; jumble. First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English noun and adjective medle(e), medlei(e), maedlai(e) “battle, war, quarrel; mixture, balanced mixture,” from…

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Word of the Day - Hincty (adj) hink-tee

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Word of the Day - Numen (noun) noo-men

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