This week's theme
Words that arose from cartoons

This week's words
curate's egg
gerrymander
McCarthyism
Rube Goldberg
blimp

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(roob GOLD-buhrg)

MEANING:

adjective: Absurdly complex or impractical.

ETYMOLOGY:

After cartoonist Rube Goldberg (1883-1970) who was known for his intricate drawings showing fantastically impractical contraptions to accomplish simple jobs. Earliest documented use: 1928.

NOTES:

Inspired? Take part in the Rube Goldberg contest.
The British equivalent of the term is Heath Robinson.

USAGE:

"A Rube Goldberg solution to a simple problem, Sea Swap has proved too unstable for long-term practice."
Matthew Hipple; Sea Swap: It's a Trap; United States Naval Institute Proceedings; Jul 2013.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: