Words I love

Mav”er*ick\ n. In the southwestern part of the united States, a bullock or heifer that has not been branded, and is unclaimed or wild;—said to be from Maverick, the name of a cattle owner in Texas who neglected to brand his cattle.

Earmark

Originally a cut or mark in the ear of sheep and cattle, serving as a sign of ownership; first recorded 1577 in figurative sense; in modernity, the term earmark has come to mean something set aside for a specific purpose, usually money, but it can be time (I will earmark 15 minutes a day to reflect on my daily gratitudes). With regard to earmarks and financial issues, the concept is to set aside funds for a special purpose. In an education bill for instance, specific funds may be set aside for the stated goal of replacing the roof of a certain school, or in a transportation bill, specific dollars are included to guarantee that railroad crossings in rural areas are upgraded for safety issues.

Like anything else, earmarks can be exploited and abused, but anyone who has seen a new traffic lights installed, upgrades to their emergency response system (911), or new fire trucks purchased for their community with money from the Federal Government has benefitted from earmarks.

a phrase actually, but it has words, and I do love it, so it fits the criteria of the goal …

slang for when someone tries to dress something up, but is still that something; I first heard this term on the 1980’s comedy “Designing Women” and have loved it ever since.

an idiomatic expression originating in the rural Southeastern United States, Mumanem refers to the family of another person, for instance instead of asking “And how are your mother, father, sister and brother” one asks “How are Mumanem?”

Let’s just say Jo knows KITSCH!

kitsch –noun
something of tawdry design, appearance, or content created to appeal to popular or undiscriminating taste.

[Origin: 1925–30; < G, deriv. of kitschen to throw together (a work of art)]

—Related forms
kitschy, adjective

Let’s start with “K” – suggested by kazaa42, and seconded by keksi2k. Hey- I’m sensing a pattern here!

How about we pick a letter, and everyone choose a word beginning with that letter? Then the last person to post chooses the next letter.

Who’s in?

Tris (greek for three) deka (greek for 10) phobe (an individual affected by a certain fear) – effectivey a triskaidekaphobe fears the number thirteen, or situation that involves anything in a 13 sequence. This in in honour of Friday 13th yesterday ;-)

Nary: adjective. not one. not any; no; never a: nary a sound.

or as a I used today in my post about the next new and fulfilling goal “nary a month to go” meaning not a month, as June has already has has a day pass by

noun

1 : a member of any of various peoples (as in antiquity) who lived or were reputed to live chiefly in caves 2 : a person characterized by reclusive habits or outmoded or reactionary attitudes

I can’t hear myself using this word in conversation, but I just love the sound and meaning of this word. Used in pun, it would be fun. (None of you hip hoppers better steal that rhyme!)