The formal name of the forward slash punctuation, used as shorthand for the word or . It is commonly seen in phrases denoting equivalents such as his/her and and/or. It is also the fine line between the numerator and denominator in fractions, and can be considered shorthand for per , as in dollars /...

A hot water bath typically used for cooking custards or melting chocolate. It limits and stabilizes the cooking temperature in the dishes placed in it. Obviously a French term, yet it often appears in English cookbooks when "water bath" is just too dowdy. Often hyphenated. It has an intere...

Anointing with oil, especially in rituals or ceremonies, also the application of an ointment or salve.
As in: my chafed tuchus was relieved with the unction of diaper rash unguent.

I've often thought a good name for an oil change station chain might be Unction Junction (keep it function-ing).

A grand summer tradition, a meal taken outside, i.e., alfresco. Usually taken to mean a meal of leisure, distinct from a field hand's lunch.

Possibly from the French pique-nique.

Also spelled tuchis, toches, tuches, among others. A grand old Yiddish word for what is always behind you: buttocks. It is often used by non Jewish people as a seemingly more polite or quaint alternative to butt. Example: Joseph Robert, if you track mud in here again, your tuchus will get a spanking...

Boorish, deliberately rude. The internet seems increasingly full of churlish commenters who want nothing more than attention.

A discontinuity, a gap or pause.

From the Latin verb hiare, to gape or yawn.

Suitable for a person with little taste or intellectual interest.
A favorite word of mine that evokes an image of a scowling Neanderthal with a prominent browline, a gaping mouth and watching a reality show on TV.

Wrong forum to suggest, my apologies.

Don't be panicin' if you can't find your pannikin. It may be in the dishwasher.
A pannikin is a small drinking cup, typically enameled metal.

A lovely word descriptive of (too many lettered) phosphorescence, a phenomenon some materials have of re-emitting light for a period of time after having absorbed it. Commonly observed in "glow in the dark" toys, key chains, paints, watch hands, etc. Distinct from fluorescent in that the l...

Originally, an architectural feature to direct drained rainwater out and away from a building, a spout. In classic Roman architecture, lion figures were used. During the middle ages, grotesque creatures came into fashion and is how the word is thought of today.

Selenology is scientific study of the moon. Geology is limited to the Earth; we now have the capability of selenological studies of moon rocks and features of the moon. From selen- (moon) + o + -logy (study). Naturally, it follows that we will be conducting similar research on Mars. That would requi...

To destroy by fire, to offer as a sacrifice by burning. My mother would destroy all spiders in the house by immolation if it were safe to do so. War protesters held ceremonial draft card immolations. I almost immolated myself with a stupid party trick involving vodka. Good and underutilized action v...

A most euphonic name for a small ceramic baking dish, typically with fluted sides, hopefully containing creme brulee. Also the name of a preparation of cheese, bread crumbs and eggs, baked in such a vessel, which also would be quite welcome. Ramekins seem to be associated with rich desserts, possibl...