Monday, April 10, 2017

stadium, furlough, STD, sternulation, sternutator, stertor, stertorious, strait, strickle, to strickle, whet a scythe


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stadium: [Latin, span]   a span of 606.95 feet; this was the length of the track for foot races in ancient Rome.  It is equivalent to 1/8 of a mile, which is also a furlough. 
    

STD:  abbreviation for "Sacred Theological Doctor"
   
    They say irony is key to humor…


sternutation: to sneeze  

    sternutator: something that causes sneezing


stertor:  snoring 

stertorious, adjective


strait: [narrow; to tighten] i.e. isthmus; also, a strait jacket

   a difficult position, i.e. dire straits


strickle: instrument used to whet a scythe 

    Although I love how eclectic this definition is (when was the last time you whetted your scythe?),  there is more…

    A strickle is also the rod used to level things, such as concrete after pouring, a plaster wall, or the rod to level grain during measuring.  Almost every parent has probably "strickled" the small cup of powdered formula while making bottles.  Thus, strickle is also a verb.  

    Pictures of antique strickles are quite beautiful, such as rich, mahogany colored wood strickles from the 1800’s. 

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