Neologisms 2

About a month ago, I posted a list of neologisms (newly coined words that aren’t in common usage). You may recall that “neologism” is based on the French word, néologisme, which came into being in 1734.

Here are a few more neologisms that were submitted to The Washington Post in its annual neologism contest. The Post encouraged its readers to submit new meanings for everyday words.

These were some of the winners of the contest:

·         Flatulence (n.) emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are run over by a steamroller.

·         Balderdash (n.), a rapidly receding hairline.

·         Testicle (n.), a humorous question on an exam.

·         Rectitude (n.), the formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.

·         Pokemon (n), a Rastafarian proctologist.

·         Oyster (n.), a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.

·         Frisbeetarianism (n.), (back by popular demand): The belief that when you die, your Soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.

·         Circumvent (n.), an opening in the front of boxer shorts worn by Jewish men.

Just like the previous list, these made me chortle out loud. Again, thanks, Beverly for sending them to me.