TileHead Takes a Break

You may have noticed that I haven’t posted much lately, and now I must confirm what you may have guessed: TileHead is going on an extended hiatus, and I don’t know how long it will last.  While I may post something from time to time, I certainly won’t be doing frequent word-of-the-day entries, weekly quotations, or any of the other heretofore regular features.  Instead, I will be devoting more time and energy to committee work, to my own word game study and play, and to my personal and professional life.

Thank you to all my readers who have been on this lexical odyssey with me, the silent majority as well as the few who frequently passed along corrections, side notes, encouragement, or questions.  Over the past two years, we’ve explored hundreds of words: words with unusual meanings, words with curious histories, words with surprising connections.  I learned a lot — much more than I could share in these pages — and I hope you did, too.

I expect to return someday to posting regular entries here on the TileHead blog.  Until then, I hope you will take some of your own alphabetic journeys through the dictionary, and may you always delight in the power and magic of words, wonderful words.

Nationals 2012

The 2012 National Scrabble Championship will take place August 11-15, at the Royal Pacific Resort in Orlando, FL.  More than 300 tile heads will compete over 5 days and 31 games.  Players are separated into four divisions by rating.  Yours truly will be competing in Division 2.

Here are some handy links to follow the action:

• Live coverage website
• Standings by division

Good luck to all of the participants!

"Flow with whatever may happen..."

Quote of the Week:

Flow with whatever may happen and let your mind be free.
~ Zhuangzi (c. 369-286 BC)

TEGULAR

TileHead’s Word of the Day for 8 August 2012

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Word of the Day:

TEGULAR  (adj.)

Definition(s):

1. (adj.) of, relating to, or resembling a tile

Useful info for word game players:

• Front hooks: (none)
• Back hooks: (none)
• Anagrams: (none)
• Longer extensions: tegularLY
• Wraparounds: (none)
• Other Spellings: (none)
• Related Forms: TEGULARLY (adv.)

Current theme:

No theme this week — just a few selections from the good wordbook

Epilogue:

This word is used primarily in the roofing and paving industries, and indeed it comes from the Latin tegula, meaning “tile,” ultimately from the verb tegere, meaning “to roof, to cover.”  Several other words from the same roots usually refer to the outer skin, membrane, or husk of an organism, such as TEGMEN, TEGUMEN, TEGUMENT, INTEGUMENT, STEGODON, and STEGOSAURUS.  One such word, TEGULATED, is sometimes used to refer to a kind of ancient armor composed of overlapping plates.

Could it be applied to Scrabble tiles as well?  Certainly — though it rarely has been, it would seem.  Please join me in widening the figurative use of this word among the Scrabble community!  One could refer to a tournament as a “tegular competition,” or to the luck of the draw as “tegular fate,” or to top competitors as “tegular titans.” 

Speaking of tegular titans, I look forward to seeing many of you at the upcoming National Scrabble Championship!

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

ATARAXIA

TileHead’s Word of the Day for 6 August 2012

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Word of the Day:

ATARAXIA  (n. pl. -S)

Definition(s):

1. (n.) peace of mind; calmness of mind; emotional tranquility; stoical indifference

Useful info for word game players:

• Front hooks: (none)
• Back hooks: -S
• Anagrams: (none)
• Longer extensions: (none)
• Wraparounds: (none)
• Other Spellings: ATARAXY
• Related Forms: ATARAXIC (adj. & n.), ATARACTIC (adj. & n.)

Current theme:

No theme this week — just a few selections from the good wordbook

Epilogue:

The Stoics and the Epicureans of ancient Greece both sought ATARAXIA (or ATARAXY), a state of tranquility and calmness, though they differed on the best means of achieving it.  Deriving from the Greek for “lack of disturbance” or “impassiveness,” ATARAXIA remains for many today as desirable — and, often, elusive — as it was for those ancient philosophers.  The English language has many terms for this and related concepts, with small shades of difference in meaning.  Some near-synonyms that I find particularly interesting are APLOMB, EQUANIMITY, PLACIDITY, SANGFROID, SERENITY, and TRANQUILITY.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

"All rising to a great place..."

Quote of the Week:

All rising to a great place is by a winding stair.
~ Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

"Light the match"

Quote of the Week:

I am building a fire, and everyday I train, I add more fuel. At just the right moment, I light the match.
~ Mia Hamm (1972- ), American Olympic athlete

DRESSAGE

TileHead’s Word of the Day for 24 July 2012

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Word of the Day:

DRESSAGE  (n. pl. -S)

Definition(s):

1. (n.) the art or method of training a horse in obedience and in precision of movement
2. (n.) a competitive sport involving the guiding of a horse through complex maneuvers by slight movements of the rider’s hands, legs, and weight
3. (n.) the maneuvers performed by a horse trained in this method

Useful info for word game players:

• Front hooks: (none)
• Back hooks: -S
• Anagrams: DEGASSER
• Longer extensions: (none)
• Wraparounds: (none)
• Other Spellings: (none)
• Related Forms: (none)

Epilogue:

There are three main categories of EQUESTRIAN events at the Summer Olympics: jumping, DRESSAGE, and “eventing,” the last being a sort of equestrian triathlon involving jumping, cross country, and dressage events.  The word DRESSAGE comes from the French dresser, “to train” or “to drill.”  The event involves leading a horse through complex maneuvers such as PASSAGE (a slow trot with highly elevated feet) and PIAFFE (a movement that resembles a slow trot in place), ideally in such a manner that the rider appears relaxed and the horse responds smoothly and accurately.

With that, we will ride into the sunset, anticipating the official start of the Summer Olympics later this week.  Enjoy the Games!

Word to the wise: TileHead’s word of the day feature will be a little few and far between over the next several weeks.  Please enjoy the posts when they do appear, and please be patient when they do not.  Withdrawal symptoms may be lessened by flipping through your favorite dictionary and marveling at the wondrous beauty and inexhaustibility of the English language.

Recapping the past week’s words:
FALLAWAY, APPEL, PELOTON, JUDOKA, and DRESSAGE

Also mentioned in passing:
EPEE, EQUESTRIAN, FENCING, FOIL, JUDO, JUDOIST, JUJITSU, OCTAVE, OLYMPIAD, PASSADO, PASSAGE, PIAFFE, PLASTRON, PLATOON, PRIME, PUNTO, QUARTE, QUINTE, RIPOSTE, SABER, SECONDE, SEPTIME, SIXTE, TAEKWONDO, TIERCE, TOUCHE, and VOLTE

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

JUDOKA

TileHead’s Word of the Day for 23 July 2012

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Word of the Day:

JUDOKA  (n. pl. -S)

Definition(s):

1. (n.) one who practices judo; a judoist

Useful info for word game players:

• Front hooks: (none)
• Back hooks: -S
• Anagrams: (none)
• Longer extensions: (none)
• Wraparounds: (none)
• Other Spellings: (none)
• Related Forms: JUDO, JUDOIST

Current theme:

Summer Olympics

Epilogue:

Many use the terms JUDO and JUJITSU (also spelled JUJUTSU, JIUJITSU, and JIUJUTSU) interchangeably, but they are technically different.  Jujitsu derives from ju (“soft” or “gentle”) and jutsu (“art” or “skill”) and is a martial art with ancient roots involving holds, throws, and paralyzing blows.  Today there are many different varieties of jujitsu, with varying emphases and teachings.  The most well known and popular variety, judo, derives from ju and do (“way”) and is a modern martial art developed by Japanese master Jigoro Kano (1860-1938) involving holds, throws, and quick movements.  A practitioner of judo may be called a JUDOKA (ju + do + ka “person”) or a JUDOIST.

Judo has been a regular Summer Olympic event since 1964 (with the exception of 1968).  Another popular martial art, TAEKWONDO, was added to the Games in 2000.  Taekwondo is derived from Korean tae (“kick”), plus kwon (“fist”), plus do (“way”), or, more poetically, “the way of kicking and punching.”

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

"Competing at the highest level..."

Quote of the Week:

Competing at the highest level is the greatest test of one's character.
~ Russell Mark (1964- ), Australian Olympic athlete

PELOTON

TileHead’s Word of the Day for 19 July 2012

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Word of the Day:

PELOTON  (n. pl. -S)

Definition(s):

1. (n.) the main body or field of riders in a bicycle race
2. (n.) a small body of soldiers; a platoon (rare)
3. (n.) a type of colorful, ornamental Bohemian glassware; also called peloton glass (rare)

Useful info for word game players:

• Front hooks: (none)
• Back hooks: -S
• Anagrams: (none)
• Longer extensions: (none)
• Wraparounds: (none)
• Other Spellings: (none)
• Related Forms: (none)

Current theme:

Summer Olympics

Epilogue:

PELOTONS, or tightly-packed groups of riders, figure prominently in most longer bicycle races.  Many riders will “bunch” together, saving energy by “drafting” behind one another, and one or more riders will eventually aim for a “break” or “breakaway.”  The word is from French and literally means “little ball” or “pellet.”  The word PLATOON is from the same source, and, indeed, the word PELOTON was once used as a synonym for a small body of soldiers.

Cycling is another sport — along with fencing, some swimming events, and some track & field events — that has been included in every modern Summer Olympic Games, from 1896 to the present.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

APPEL

TileHead’s Word of the Day for 18 July 2012

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Word of the Day:

APPEL  (n. pl. -S)

Definition(s):

1. (n.) in fencing, a stamp of the foot, used as a feint or as a warning of attack
2. (n.) in fencing, a sharp blow made to produce an opening

Useful info for word game players:

• Front hooks: R-
• Back hooks: -S
• Anagrams: APPLE, PEPLA
• Longer extensions: appelLEE/S, appelLOR/S, appelLANT/S, appelLATE, appelLATION/S, appelLATIVE/S, appelLATIVELY
• Wraparounds: RappelS, RappelED, RappelLED, RappelING, RappelLING, CappelLETTI
• Other Spellings: (none)
• Related Forms: (none)

Current theme:

Summer Olympics

Epilogue:

The sport of FENCING is rife with obscure words.  Most specialized English language fencing terms are derived from French, owing to the strong influence of French fencing masters in the 16th through the 19th centuries.  APPEL, for example, comes from the French appeler, “to call” or (in this sense) “to challenge.”  Fencing is one of the few sports that has been an official event at the games of every modern Summer Olympics, which began in 1896.

Some other unusual fencing words include:

• EPEE: a fencing blade with a bowl-shaped guard and a long, narrow blade with a blunt point; the other primary fencing swords are the FOIL and the SABER 
• PASSADO: a thrust in fencing with one foot advanced 
• PLASTRON: a pad worn by a fencer to protect the chest 
• PUNTO: a point or hit in fencing 
• RIPOSTE: a fencer’s quick return thrust following a parry 
• TOUCHE: used to acknowledge a hit in fencing 
• VOLTE: a sudden movement or leap to avoid a thrust 
• And all of the eight basic fencing positions: PRIME, SECONDE, TIERCE, QUARTE, QUINTE, SIXTE, SEPTIME, and OCTAVE

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

FALLAWAY

TileHead’s Word of the Day for 17 July 2012

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Word of the Day:

FALLAWAY  (n. pl. -S)  (adj.)

Definition(s):

1. (n.) a shot in basketball made while moving away from the basket
2. (adj.) pertaining to a shot or movement made while moving away from the basket

Useful info for word game players:

• Front hooks: (none)
• Back hooks: -S
• Anagrams: (none)
• Longer extensions: (none)
• Wraparounds: (none)
• Other Spellings: (none)
• Related Forms: (none)

Current theme:

Summer Olympics

Epilogue:

The FALLAWAY jump shot is a staple of modern basketball, allowing a player to take a shot with less chance of it being blocked by the opposition.  Michael Jordan was famous for hitting last-second fallaway jumpers.  He and his star teammates on the United States men’s basketball team, dubbed the “Dream Team,” ran away with the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics.  Overall, the U.S. men’s basketball team has dominated the sport since it became an Olympic event in 1936, capturing 13 gold medals, 1 silver, and 2 bronzes in its 16 appearances.

The world is about to get a serious case of Olympic fever, with the opening ceremony of the London Summer Olympics taking place on July 27th.  To get you into the mood, over the next several days we will host a small OLYMPIAD of words related to some of the sports of the Summer games.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

"Languages do not improve or deteriorate..."

Quote of the Week: 

Languages do not improve or deteriorate. They just change, like the tides. Yesterday's tide is no better or worse than today's or tomorrow's.... Words come and go. Grammar fluctuates. Pronunciations alter. Spelling preferences vary. None of it adds up to a doomsday scenario, notwithstanding the best efforts of media pundits to say that it does.
~ David Crystal, Words Words Words (2006)

ULLAGE

TileHead’s Word of the Day for 13 July 2012

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Word of the Day:

ULLAGE  (n. pl. -S)

Definition(s):

1. (n.) the amount by which the contents fall short of filling a container
2. (n.) the quantity of liquid lost from a container due to leakage or evaporation

Useful info for word game players:

• Front hooks: S-
• Back hooks: -D, -S
• Anagrams: (none)
• Longer extensions: (none)
• Wraparounds: SullageS
• Other Spellings: (none)
• Related Forms: ULLAGED (adj.)

Current theme:

No theme this week — just a few random selections from the good wordbook

Epilogue:

That extra space at the top of bottles of wine, known as ULLAGE or HEADSPACE, often serves a purpose, allowing for expansion of contents or gases.  A similar concept applies to soda bottles, jet fuel tanks, and other containers of liquid.  Ullage seems to be on the rise in dry food packaging as well — notice the amount of air in your potato chip, cracker, or breakfast cereal packages — though more for reasons of marketing and chicanery than for any valid purpose.

The word derives ultimately from the Latin oculus (“eye”).  Medieval winemakers tried to fill casks up to the “eye” (the bunghole or stopper) to prevent the introduction of unwanted bacteria or other foreign substances.  Thus the French ouillage morphed into Anglo-French ulliage, the ancestor of our modern word.

If you are more concerned about what is inside the container, then INNAGE is the word for you.  INNAGE refers to the amount of liquid or product in a container, often measured in height from the bottom of the container.  It can also refer to the amount of liquid or product remaining in a container after shipment, such as the amount of fuel remaining in a jet tank after a flight.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

BUSHIDO

TileHead’s Word of the Day for 11 July 2012

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Word of the Day:

BUSHIDO  (n. pl. -S)

Definition(s):

1. (n.) the code of conduct of the Japanese samurai warrior

Useful info for word game players:

• Front hooks: (none)
• Back hooks: -S
• Anagrams: (none)
• Longer extensions: (none)
• Wraparounds: (none)
• Other Spellings: (none)
• Related Forms: (none)

Current theme:

No theme this week — just a few random selections from the good wordbook

Epilogue:

The Japanese bu-shi-do literally means “military-knight-ways,” often translated more poetically as the "way of the warrior."  Bushido is a relatively new word in English, having been popularized by Nitobe Inazo's 1899 book Bushido: The Soul of Japan, but it encompasses a complex moral code of conduct with roots in ancient Japanese culture and warfare.  Among the virtues emphasized were courage, discipline, duty, honor, honesty, loyalty, respect, and sacrifice.

Ancient SAMURAI (“servant”) warriors were so duty-bound that they would occasionally commit SEPPUKU ("stomach-cutting"), a ritualistic form of suicide with a short sword, in order to avoid being captured by an enemy or to avoid shame for misdeeds.  This gruesome ritual is no longer practiced, of course, but Japanese culture still places a high value on duty and honor.  For example, top Japanese executives will sometimes resign in the wake of a scandal or problem that brings shame to the company.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =