Quirky thoughts from an old man.
Portmanteau Noun: A word blending the sounds and combining the meanings of two others. This is a very useful word. Example: Podcast is a portmanteau of iPod and Broadcast. I suspect that cowboy is a portmanteau of cowherd and ranch boy. How about postcard? Here are some more examples
Fanboy Noun: A male fan. For example: “Bill is a big fanboy of Zelensky.” or Verb: A male being overly enthusiastic. For example: “Bill has a tendency to fanboy about the UCLA of the last century.” This is a new word, the meaning is evolving. It is also a portmanteau. I am a fanboy of …
The Great Firewall of China The Great Firewall of China is a national effort to censor internet content from those within the country’s borders. It is an indicator of Chinese citizens lack of freedom of speech that their access to sites like Wikipedia and the Wall Street Journal is blocked. The Great Wall didn’t work …
“There are good ships and wood shipsAnd ships that sail the sea,But the best ships are friendships,May they always be!” The Loopers Toast “Loopers” are boaters who sail (usually in power boats) around the Eastern US in a “great loop.” Up the East Coast and the Hudson River then through the Great Lakes or Ontario, …
In modern American signs we have replaced “Beware” with “Caution.”
Kerchief Noun: A square of cloth worn around the neck or on the head. Often used as a portmanteau with neck or hand. Neckerchief and Handkerchief. Example: “She used her kerchief to keep the Arizona sun off her neck.
Gerrymander Verb: To manipulate the boundaries of an electoral district so as to favor one party or class. Example: “A Gerrymander that favors my side is to be ignored and a gerrymander that favors the opposition is to be condemned.” The word is a Portmanteau of Gerry (a politician from Massachusetts in the 19th century) …
Baggravation Noun: a Portmanteau of Bag and Aggravation. The negative feelings caused by schlepping bags through an airport. Example: The luggage arriving late caused much baggravation.
Fortnight Noun: British english for biweekly or a two week period. Example: “We didn’t expect to see the cruise ship again for a fortnight.”
Brexit is a Portmanteau of British and Exit and it explains it all. The UK voted to leave the EU and the decision is causing much angst in the EU and in the UK. I have always thought that Brexit was, in the margin, an idea worth trying. Since the EU nations aren’t doing that …