Word of the Day
Word of the day
caravan
noun
a group traveling together for safety through difficult or dangerous areas
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Why Dictionary.com chose caravan
More about caravan
- First recorded in 1590–1600.
- From Persian kārwān, meaning “caravan, convoy;” ultimately from a root meaning “army.”
EXAMPLES OF CARAVAN
- Guards rode at the front and rear of the caravan to deter bandits and fend off predators.
- After weeks of travel, the caravan finally spotted their destination on the horizon.
veld
noun
the open country in parts of southern Africa, with grass, bushes, and sparse trees
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Why Dictionary.com chose veld
More about veld
- First recorded in 1795–1805.
- From Afrikaans veld, meaning “field, open country;” closely related to the English word field.
EXAMPLES OF VELD
- The guide scanned the veld for signs of movement, her binoculars ready to spot the secretary bird.
- Farmers managed parts of the veld for grazing cattle.
pidgin
noun
a simplified language system used between speakers of different languages
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Why Dictionary.com chose pidgin
More about pidgin
- First recorded in 1875–80.
- From the term pidgin English, a simple language system used between Chinese and English traders; pidgin, in that original context, is possibly a corruption of the word business.
EXAMPLES OF PIDGIN
- In the port of Canton, English and Chinese blended into a pidgin used for trade.
- With no shared language, they relied on a makeshift pidgin to get through the meeting.
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