Word of the Day
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Why Dictionary.com chose skerry
More about skerry
- First recorded in 1605–15.
- From Old Norse sker, meaning “rock or reef.”
EXAMPLES OF SKERRY
- The skerry vanished at high tide, leaving boats at risk of striking the hidden rocks.
- The fishermen anchored their dinghy near a lonely skerry to check their lobster traps.
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Why Dictionary.com chose guffaw
More about guffaw
- First recorded in 1710–20.
- Likely imitative of a hearty laugh.
EXAMPLES OF GUFFAW
- The whole crowd began to guffaw at his absurd attempt to moonwalk.
- I’ll guffaw at anything slapstick, no matter how many times I’ve seen it.
oubliette
noun
a secret dungeon with an opening only in the ceiling
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Why Dictionary.com chose oubliette
More about oubliette
- First recorded in 1810–20.
- From French; ultimately from the Latin root oblītāre, meaning “to forget or blot out.”
EXAMPLES OF OUBLIETTE
- They unearthed a skeleton at the bottom of the oubliette during renovations.
- Rumors of a hidden oubliette fueled ghost stories about the manor.
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