We do 'Good lines' posts here periodically, so why not some 'Good words'? To start with how about the very good Scots word 'smeddum'. I think of it because yesterday a friend described one of my children as having smeddum, and if I explain that it means "spirit, energy, drive, vigorous commonsense and resourcefulness", you'll see that that was a compliment!
'Smeddum' is also the title of a book, a collection of work by Lewis Grassic Gibbon, coming from his acclaimed short story of the same name.
Good word, cornflower. My mother used to call me 'thrawn', and ocassionally 'besom', although not together, as far as I recall!
Posted by: Lizzie | 30 October 2009 at 10:49 AM
I've got a six year old with plenty of smeddum too.
Posted by: Jennifer | 30 October 2009 at 02:35 PM
Two favorites, not sure they count: Pronouncing 'bedraggled' as 'bed-raggled' has become standard in our family (thanks to my then 9-year-old stepson). And "mugpuddles" (my brother's invention) for those puddles that collect in the upside-down bottoms of mugs after you run them through the dishwasher.
Posted by: Ruth M. | 30 October 2009 at 04:15 PM
These aren't unique as those listed above are, but I am a fan of "pragmatic" and "obstreperous."
Posted by: Becky | 30 October 2009 at 10:21 PM
How about "anthropologetically speaking"?
Well, that one has two words in it - sorry.
While I'm at that, I have a favorite two-word phrase I accidentally used once with my husband and we both liked it so much that it's all I use now. I occasionally meet one or another friend at "Barnes & Nibble" for a coffee and a chat in the Starbucks cafe they have there - and usually wind up buying a magazine or a book before I can get out the door.
Posted by: Nancy | 01 November 2009 at 02:57 AM