Tuesday, August 30, 2011

QIVIUT

TileHead’s Word of the Day for 30 August 2011

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QIVIUT  (n. pl. -S)

Definition(s):
  1. (n.) the wool of a muskox
  2. (n.) fiber or fabric made from the wool of a muskox

Useful information for game players:
  • Front hooks: (none)
  • Back hooks: -S
  • Anagrams: (none)
  • Longer extensions: (none)
  • Wraparounds: (none)
  • Other Spellings: (none)
  • Related Forms: (none)

Epilogue:
I was fortunate to be able to spend a few days in Alaska recently, where I was delighted to discover that QIVIUT is a relatively common word.  It means “underwool” in Inuit, the language of native peoples of Canada, Alaska, and Greenland.  Speaking of Q-not-followed-by-U words, another Inuit word frequently encountered in Alaska is UMIAQ, a canoe-like boat used by the natives of those arctic regions, also spelled UMIAC, UMIAK, OOMIAC, OOMIAK, UMIACK, and OOMIACK.

This week’s theme: Words starting with the letter Q

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