Contents:

Introduction

A - E

F - N

O - Z

Word Play

Word A Day

Word Detective

World Wide Words

F - N

F

FANTABULOUS, adj. beyond fabulous. [blend of fantastic and fabulous]
Context and source: "It's fantabulous!" (Conversaton with classmate Amir Brown)
adj. Excellent, superlative, both fabulous and fantastic. [blend of fantastic and fabulous]
Context and source: "This fantabulous four-poster bed can be yours..." (Television advert)

F.I.N.E, adj. acronym (F*cked up, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional). Usually derogatory;
indicated by tone of voice.
Context: "We all know he's F.I.N.E, just like those freaks he hangs out with."

FLAGGIN', v. Slang. Flashing or giving gang signs. [derived from flag - to flash. ]
Context and source: Don't go flaggin' in the wrong 'hood or you gonna end up dead.

FLAME, v. A personal attack within a post on Usenet. [metaphorical extension of flame]
Context and source: "Please don't flame me if you disagree with this." (Usenet article)

FLOW, v. Slang. Rapping. [from the observation that rapping usually contains long strings of text without many pauses]
Context and source: "Flow on the mike." (Conversation)

411, n. Information or informative details, usually about a planned event or activity. Also 4-1-1. [ One usually dials 4-1-1 on the telephone to reach an operator in order to inquire about some piece of information one is searching for.]
Context and source: "Here's the 411 on the crabbing trip." (heard in conversation)

FRO-YO, n. A frosty, creamy dessert; frozen yogurt. [clipping of frozen yogurt]
Context and source: "Chocolate fro-yo is my favorite dessert!" (Conversation)

FUNKINETICS, n. a very energetic form of step aerobics that mixes exercise and soul music. [Blend of funk and kinetics (motion).]
Context and source: If you like soul music and aerobics, you'll like funkinetics. (KPRC Houston 10pm news)

FUNNY, n. A joke; a humorous comment or remark, sometimes unintentionally humorous. [zero-derivation of adj. funny]
Context and source: "Did I make a funny?" (Conversation)

FURTHER-FETCHED, adj. Beyond far-fetched [Compound further and fetched]
Context and Source: "That's even worse. That's further-fetched." (Lecture)

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GARDEN BURGER, n. A hamburger made with a non-meat, vegetarian patty instead of beef, served by Rice University Food Service. Also gardenburger.
Context and source: "The garden burger is a healthy alternative to a hamburger." (Conversation)

"GARDEN TOOL" MAMA, n. Slang. a prostitute. ["Garden tool" is a euphemism of the vulgar slang ho, which is a derivative (euphemistic respelling) of 'whore'.]
Context and Source: She is nothing but a "garden tool" mama. (Conversation)

GET FUNGED, Epithet for when someone bungles an important task ( in honor of criminalist Dennis Fung). [Lingo used by journalists covering the O.J. Simpson Civil Trial. Found in Newsweek]

GINORMOUS- adj. extremely large [blend of gigantic and enormous]
Context and source: "Oh my! It is not gigantic. It is ginormous!" (Conversation)

GLOBOBOSS, n. A cosmopolitan executive that has the ability to perform well across the globe.
Context and Source: "Wanted a globoboss who's at home anywhere and sings the same tune- profits- everywhere." (Newsweek 12/2/96)

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HANZOUND TM, n. The sound system at Hanszen College, Rice University. adj. The presentation of a production using the Hanszen sound system. [combination of "Hanszen" College and "sound". The capitalized "Z" serves to separate the two constituent parts of the word. Also, only "-en" was clipped off of "Hanszen". Also, "s" and "z" are similar in sound (differ only in voicing) which allows for the particular type of blending and clipping in this new word.]
Context and source: "The Hanszen Movies Committee presents A Christmas Story in HansZound TM." (from a flyer posted at Hanszen College)

HOT-SEATING, v. To use the same boat but switch out rowers for consecutive races, as in races that occur immediately after another. [Rowers' jargon]
Context and source: "We're hot-seating the next race." ( Conversation)

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IMHO, In My Humble Opinion [Acronym used on the Internet]

INTERQUEL, n. A television production that dramatizes a story lying temporally between the story in the original production and that of its sequel. [Analogical formation from model word sequel, first extension prequel via recutting to form new morpheme quel; then prefixed with inter- 'between']

Context and source: "Having written and filmed a "Lonesome Dove" sequel and prequel, come about 1997 Mr. McMurtry plans to finish an interquel "Comanche Moon," about his heroes' prime adulthood." (New York Times 5/12/96)

ITO'D, v. To get hit on the head, especially with a TV crew's boom microphone. [Lingo used by journalists covering the O.J. Simpson Civil Trial. Found in Newsweek]

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JAPANIMATION, n. A type of cartoon or animation originating in Japan carrying robotic and futuristic themes.
Also refers to the style of animation. The characters have a distinctive type of appearance, usually incorporating a lock of hair hanging in front of an eye, and nudity.
Also known as anime. [Blend of Japan and animation].

JONES, n. Slang. An intense desire.
Context and source: "Geez, you really got the jones for her." (Conversation)

JORDANESQUE, adj. reminiscent of Michael Jordan. [coined by NBC Sports commentator Marv Albert. The -esque ending means 'like', as found on words like Romanesque and statuesque.]
Context and source: "He made a jordanesque move under the basket." (Conversation)

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K-MART EXPRESS, n. Vulgar. Nicely put, a cheap tart. [derived from the notion that K-Mart sells cheap goods, and express meaning quick.]
Context and source: "All his girlfriends is K-Mart Express. " (Interview on the Ricki Lake Show)

KRUNK, adj. Slang. Awesome. syn. tight, cool. [? blend of funk and (k)ool; African American Vernacular English]
Context and source: That was a krunk song. (Conversation)

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LATE PLATE, n. Dinner/meal eaten after the regular (family-style) dinner is served (Rice University).
Context and source: "Late plate doesn't start until 6:15." (Conversation)

LOC, n. Slang. gangster, as in a member of street gang. [derived from the Spanish word loco meaning "crazy."]
Context and source: "Don't mess with Steve, he's a loc." (Conversation explaining gang terminology)

LOCS, n. Slang. dark sunglasses.
Context and source: "¿Donde está mis locs? [Where are my sun glasses?]" (Conversation explaining gang terminology)

LOSINGEST, adj. In last place, worst off, lagging behind the rest. ["losing"+ superlative]
Context and source: "CBS is being asked to pay producers more for its series because, as the losingest network, CBS cancels more of them." (Wall Street Journal 09 Feb. 1989)

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MACINTRASH, n. A Macintosh computer. Derogatory reference. [blend of Macintosh and trash ].
Context and source: "I hate doing work on these d*** Macintrashes!" (Conversation)

MALLRATS, n. Collective term used for pre-teens and teenagers for whom it is commonplace to spend large amount of time socializing and wandering through urban shopping malls [compound formed from roots mall and rat].
Context and source: "I really don't want my sister running around with that gang of mallrats." (Conversation)

MCJOB, n. A job in a service related field with low pay, low prestige and little opportunity for advancement [analogous word formed from prefix Mc- and job ].
Context and source: "...a message that I suppose irked Dag, who was bored and cranky after eight hours of working his McJob." (Generation X, pg. 5)

MEDIA LEAKS CENTER, n. The row of Porta Potties (portable public toilets) outside the courthouse. [Lingo used by journalists covering the O.J. Simpson Civil Trial. Found in Newsweek]

MEANDERTHAL, n. An annoying individual moving slowly and aimlessly in front of another individual who is in a bit of a hurry [blend formed from meander and neanderthal ].
Context and source: "As much as he tried, Ben could do nothing to get around the meanderthal on the narrow sidewalk." (Internet)

MOTO, n. Energy for action toward a goal; motivation. [clipping of "motivation"]
Context and source: "I need some moto to go workout at the gym today."(Conversation)

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NETIZEN, n. A person who spends an excessive amount of time on the Internet. [blend of Internet and citizen].
Context and Source "...investors and Netizens alike were left wondering what went wrong. ( Newsweek).

NOAH'S ARKING, v.pres.part. The state of wearing pants in which the length is hilariously short (in other words, it is more than a couple of inches above the ankle.) [Metonymic coinage. Noah's Ark refers to the great biblical flood, when the world was covered by "high water". "Noah's Arking." has replaced the earlier term flooding. A related term for the too-short pants themselves was high water pants.]
Context and source: His pants are too short. He is "Noah's Arking."

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