Esprit de l'escalier

Here’s just a few to tickle your palett until next time:

Words for things commonly seen around Seattle and (more specifically) SPU:

-zori (ZOR-ee): also known as “flip-flops” or “thongs”
-zarf: a sleeve for a coffee cup or beer (or soda) can.
-flews: the fleshy flaps on the sides of a dog’s mouth.
-kibble: dead leaves and other organic material swept or raked up from gardens and courtyards.
-eroteme: the question mark symbol.
-haze: the slightly nappy green cloth that typically covers the tops of billiard tables and gaming tables. (a.k.a. – the remaining tattered threads littering the tops of Ashton’s pool table in the lounge.)
-aglet: (or ‘tag’) the plastic or metal sheath on the ends of shoelaces.
-escutcheon (e-SKUHCH-in): a decorative metal plate around a keyhole, door lock, doorknob, or the handle on a drawer. (sorry dorm-dwellers, you will not see too many escutcheons around your ‘pad’).
-octothorpe: the ‘pound key’ on your phone. (#)
-belgard (bel-GAHRD): a loving look.

And some other fun, but also aplicable words:

-resistentialism: seemingly spiteful behavior manifested by inanimate objects.
*Naturally this word brings to mind many wonderful examples…
-microwave ovens that sabotage your food so that the first bite you take is lukewarm and the second one scalds your tongue;
-elevator or train doors that try to crush you in their grip;
-drinks that walk off by themselves, and glasses that quietly sidle into just the right position so you will knock them over;
-computers that wait with the patience of a trapper for the precise moment when they can crash and eat your most important files (which you’ve neglected to back up on disk);
-televelocoraptor: VCR’s that erase, ingest, or otherwise mangle your favorite tapes;
-car alarms that announce their jargling indignation to the neighborhood at precisely 2:57 A.M., 3:30 A.M., and 4:22 A.M.;
-and of course, plastic wrap. (Need I say more?)

*moving on…here’s a few more before I hit the books again…

-lasterday: anytime before yesterday (NOTE: this is my own word, hehe)

-nudiustertian (N(Y)OO-di-yoo-STUR-shin): adjective that means pertaining to the day before yesterday (NOTE: I think my word is better)

-perendinate (pur-EN-di-nayt): to delay until the day after tomorrow or to postpone indefinitely.

-amphigory (AM-fi-GOR-ee): a poem that on first reading appears to be profound but that on further inspection turns out to be complete nonsense.

-demitoilet: fairly elaborate but not entirely formal dress.