Word of the Day

A skirl is the high, piercing sound of bagpipes. You know, the kind that carries far and cuts through the Highland air. The word's sharp, almost onomatopoeic quality mirrors the sound it names. It's impossible to confuse a skirl for anything else.

Something brummagem may catch your eye at first, but it ultimately falls short in quality or substance. The word comes from a nickname for Birmingham, England, once known for producing imitation goods that mimicked more expensive items. Look out for those brummagem items when you're shopping!

A flâneur is a leisurely wanderer, someone who idly strolls about with no particular destination in mind. The word comes out of 19th-century France and evokes the luxury of having time to do nothing at all. In an age of GPS and hyper-efficiency, there's something refreshing about adopting the aimless, unhurried pace of a flâneur.

Someone described as mercurial tends to shift quickly from one mood or direction to another. The word descends directly from Mercury, the Roman messenger god known for his speed and unpredictability. That sense of quick change carries through today, keeping life full of surprises.

A swivet is a heightened state of nervousness, the kind that sends you rushing or even spiraling, but often over something small. The word tends to show up in the phrase "in a swivet," and it has a playful sound that softens the feeling it describes. It's easy to find yourself in a swivet, so have a mental escape plan ready for when it happens.