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Nov 20, 2003
This week's theme
Miscellaneous words

This week's words
armamentarium
banausic
rapprochement
codswallop
extramundane

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A.Word.A.Day
with Anu Garg

codswallop

(KODZ-wol-uhp) Pronunciation RealAudio

noun: Nonsense.

Of unknown origin. According to a popular story, a fellow named Hiram Codd came up with the design of a soft-drink bottle with a marble in its neck to keep the fizz. Wallop was slang for beer and those who preferred alcoholic drinks dismissively referred to the soft-drink as Codd's Wallop. This story is unproven.

"Raising taxes is impossible politically? Poppycock and codswallop, says the Conference Board." William Watson; The 0.2% Solution; National Post (Canada); Nov 11, 2003.

"Mr Norris's mouth cuts a grim strip across his face as he drips scorn on the commission's reasons for the decision, dismissing it as codswallop, as showing a `lack of commercial reality'."
Claire Trevett; Unsmiling Airline Chief Takes Defeat in His Stride; The New Zealand Herald (Auckland, New Zealand); Oct 24, 2003.

X-Bonus

The dew of compassion is a tear. -Lord Byron, poet (1788-1824)

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