Facetiousness (fəˈsiː.ʃəs.nəs) Type: noun Definition: To treat serious issues with ill-fitting humour. Etymological origin: From facetious + -ness, with facetious from French facétieux, from Latin facetia “wit, jest,” from facetus “witty, elegant.” Field-Dressing (ˈfiːld ˈdres.ɪŋ) Type: noun Definition: The removal of organs from a hunted animal. Etymological origin: A compound of field and dressing, with dressing used in the sense of “preparing” rather than clothing. Floridness (ˈflɒr.ɪd.nəs) Type: noun Definition: An ornate quality or a reddish complexion. Etymological origin: From florid + -ness, with florid from Latin floridus “flowery, blooming,” from flos (genitive floris) “flower” (from PIE root *bhel- (3) “to thrive, bloom”). Folio (ˈfəʊ.li.əʊ) Type: noun Definition: A large book made of sheets folded once; a page number. Etymological origin: From Latin folio, ablative of folium “leaf, sheet of paper,” from PIE root *bhel- (3) “to thrive, bloom.” Freeboard (ˈfriː.bɔːrd) Type: noun Definition: The height of a ship’s side between waterline and deck. Etymological origin: A compound of free and board in its nautical sense of “side of a ship.” Fresco (ˈfres.kəʊ) Type: noun Definition: A wall painting on wet plaster. Etymological origin: From Italian fresco “fresh,” from Germanic *frisk- “fresh” (see fresh). Furtive (ˈfɜːr.tɪv) Type: adjective Definition: To be secretive. Etymological origin: From French furtif, from Latin furtivus “stolen, secret,” from furtum “theft,” from fur “thief,” from PIE root *bher- (1) “to carry.” – G – Galley (ˈɡæl.i) Type: noun Definition: A ship’s kitchen or an ancient ship propelled by oars. Etymological origin: From Old French galie, from Medieval Latin galea, of uncertain origin, possibly from Greek galeos “a kind of shark.” Gallows (ˈɡæl.oʊz) Type: noun Definition: A structure used to carry out hangings. Etymological origin: From Old English galga, from Proto-Germanic *galgon “pole, rod, gallows” (source also of Old Norse galgi, Dutch galg, German Galgen). Garret (ˈɡær.ət) Type: noun Definition: A top-floor or attic room, typically in poor condition. Etymological origin: From Old French garite “watchtower, place of refuge,” from garir “to protect, defend,” from Frankish *warjan, from Proto-Germanic *warjan. Garrote Chair (ɡəˈroʊt tʃɛr) Type: noun Definition: A Spanish execution device that consists of a chair with a metal bar at its top, which fastens around the neck. Death happens as a result of a crank being turned, which tightens the bar and drives a spine into the back of the neck. Etymological origin: From Spanish garrote “a stick, cudgel,” of uncertain origin, possibly from Old French garrot “stick used for tightening a tourniquet.” Gibbet cage (ˈdʒɪb.ɪt keɪdʒ) Type: noun Definition: A cage used to display convicted criminals, which were left to starve or dehydrate. Once death occurred, the bodies were left inside to decompose as a warning to the living. Etymological origin: From Old French gibet “gallows, little stick,” diminutive of gibe “club, staff,” of uncertain origin. Gladstone bag (ˈɡlæd.stən bæɡ) Type: noun Definition: A small traveling bag with flexible sides opening flat into two compartments. Etymological origin: Named after William Ewart Gladstone (1809-1898), four-time British Prime Minister. Glade (ɡleɪd) Type: noun Definition: A term for a forest clearing. Etymological origin: Of uncertain origin; possibly related to glad in its archaic sense of “bright, shining,” from Old English glæd, from Proto-Germanic *glada-, from PIE root *ghel- (2) “to shine.” Glutted (ˈɡlʌt.ɪd) Type: adjective Definition: Excessively satiated. Etymological origin: From glut, from Old French glotir “to swallow,” from Latin glutire “to swallow,” from PIE root *gwele- “to swallow.” Groined roof (ɡrɔɪnd ruːf) Type: noun Definition: A roof or ceiling with intersecting arches. Etymological origin: From groin in its architectural sense “the curved edge formed by two intersecting vaults,” of uncertain origin, possibly from Old English grynde “abyss, depression.” Grotesque (ɡroʊˈtɛsk) Type: noun Definition: A statue on the side of a church, chapel, or cathedral believed to have protective qualities. If fitted with a water spout, it is called a gargoyle. Etymological origin: From French grotesque, from Italian grottesca, from grotta “cave, grotto,” from Latin crypta (see crypt). Guttation (ɡʌˈteɪ.ʃən) Type: noun Definition: The secretion of water droplets from plants. Etymological origin: From Latin gutta “drop” + -ation. – H – Handfasting (ˈhænd.fɑːs.tɪŋ) Type: noun Definition: A betrothal or temporary marriage contract. Etymological origin: From Old English handfæsten “to make a contract,” from hand + fæsten “to fasten, make firm.” Headland (ˈhed.lənd) Type: noun Definition: A narrow piece of land that faces into the sea. Etymological origin: From Old English heafodland, a compound of heafod “head” + land. Heath (heθ) Type: noun Definition: An open habitat defined by low-growing vegetation and infertile, acidic soils. Etymological origin: From Old English hæð “untilled land, heathland,” from Proto-Germanic *haiþiz (source also of Old Norse heiðr, Dutch heide, German Heide). Helm (helm) Type: noun Definition: The steering apparatus of a ship, or a position of leadership. Etymological origin: From Old English helma “rudder, tiller,” from Proto-Germanic *helmaz “handle” (source also of Old Norse hjálm, German Helm). Hemophage (ˈhiː.mə.feɪdʒ) Type: noun Definition: A being that feeds on blood (translates from Greek as “blood-eater”). Etymological origin: From Greek haima “blood” + phagein “to eat” (from PIE root *bhag- “to share out, apportion”). Humbug (ˈhʌm.bʌɡ) Type: noun Definition: Deception or deceptive speech. Etymological origin: First recorded 1751, of uncertain origin, perhaps a combination of hum “to cajole” + bug “bugbear.” Hyacinthine (ˌhaɪ.əˈsɪn.θaɪn) Type: adjective Definition: Resembling the hyacinth flower; deep purplish-blue. Etymological origin: From Latin hyacinthinus, from Greek hyakinthinos “of the hyacinth,” from hyakinthos, the name of both the flower and a precious stone of blue or purple colour. Hypodermic (ˌhaɪ.pəˈdɜːr.mɪk) Type: noun / adjective Definition: An injection beneath the skin. Etymological origin: From Greek hypo “under” + derma “skin” (from PIE root *der- “to split, flay, peel”). – I – Ignaqueous (ɪɡˈneɪ.kwi.əs) Type: adjective Definition: Relating to fire and water. Etymological origin: A compound formed from Latin ignis “fire” (from PIE root *egni-) and aqua “water.” Incarnadined (ɪnˈkɑːr.nə.daɪnd) Type: adjective Definition: To be made blood-red or stained with blood. Etymological origin: From incarnadine, from French incarnadin “flesh-coloured,” from Italian incarnadino, from incarnato “flesh-coloured,” from Latin incarnare “to make flesh,” from in- + caro (genitive carnis) “flesh.” Indolence (ˈɪn.də.ləns) Type: noun Definition: Laziness. Etymological origin: From Latin indolentia “freedom from pain,” from in- “not” + dolere “to feel pain, to grieve.” Inexorable (ɪnˈek.sər.ə.bəl) Type: adjective Definition: Impossible to stop or prevent. Otherwise generally relentless. Etymological origin: From Latin inexorabilis “that cannot be moved by entreaty,” from in- “not” + exorabilis “able to be entreated,” from exorare “to prevail upon,” from ex- + orare “to pray, plead.” Inextricable (ˌɪn.ɪkˈstrɪk.ə.bəl) Type: adjective Definition: Impossible to separate. Etymological origin: From Latin inextricabilis “that cannot be disentangled,” from in- “not” + extricare “to disentangle,” from ex- “out” + tricae “perplexities, hindrances.” Inflorescence (ˌɪn.fləˈres.əns) Type: noun Definition: The flowering part of a plant or an arrangement of flowers. Etymological origin: From Modern Latin inflorescentia, from Late Latin inflorescere “to begin to blossom,” from in- + florescere “to begin to bloom,” from florere “to bloom,” from flos (genitive floris) “flower.” Innocuous (ɪˈnɒk.ju.əs) Type: adjective Definition: Harmless and/or inoffensive. Etymological origin: From Latin innocuus “harmless,” from in- “not” + nocuus “harmful,” from nocere “to harm” (from PIE root *nek- (1) “death, to cause death”). Instant Net (ˈɪn.stənt nɛt) Type: noun Definition: A term for the modern internet, highlighting its fast-paced nature. A play on “Instant Noodles” and a reference to the essay The Slow Web by Zach Cheng. Etymological origin: Instant from Latin instantem “pressing, urgent, present;” net as a shortening of network or internet. Interment (ɪnˈtɜːr.mənt) Type: noun Definition: The burial of a corpse. Etymological origin: From Old French enterrement, from enterrer “to bury,” from Medieval Latin interrare “to put into the earth,” from Latin in- “into” + terra “earth” (from PIE root *ters- “to dry”). Interminable (ɪnˈtɜːr.mɪ.nə.bəl) Type: adjective Definition: Endless or seemingly endless. Etymological origin: From Late Latin interminabilis “boundless,” from in- “not” + terminabilis “that may be bounded,” from Latin terminare “to limit, bound,” from terminus “end, boundary.” Interstice (ɪnˈtɜːr.stɪs) Type: noun Definition: A small space or crevice. Etymological origin: From Latin interstitium “an interval, space between,” from inter “between” + sistere “to stand, place,” from PIE root *sta- “to stand.” Inveigle (ɪnˈveɪ.ɡəl) Type: verb Definition: To persuade someone through deception or flattery. Etymological origin: From Anglo-French enveogler, from Old French aveugler “to blind, to hoodwink,” from aveugle “blind,” from Medieval Latin ab oculis “away from the eyes,” from ab “away” + oculus “eye.” – J – Jar Burial (dʒɑːr ˈber.i.əl) Type: noun Definition: A large jar used to hold corpses, akin to a coffin. Etymological origin: From jar, of uncertain origin, possibly from Arabic jarrah “earthen vessel,” + burial from Old English byrgan “to bury,” from Proto-Germanic *burgjan. Jaunting-cars (ˈdʒɔːn.tɪŋ kɑːrz) Type: noun (plural) Definition: Light two-wheeled horse-drawn vehicles used in Ireland. Etymological origin: From jaunting, present participle of jaunt “to make an excursion,” of uncertain origin, possibly from French jante “rim of a wheel.”