Strigil

A strigil sounds painful and unappealing. It's actually a skin scraper which was used, according to my dictionary, by "ancients at bath". I actually have no idea what that really implies, but it doesn't sound like something I'd like to witness. Your meanings, however, were wonderful. Strigil is a word that evokes and encourages interesting meanings and I'm pleased our word imps came to the party on that one. Sadly, though, I can't put three names on the poll until the poll returns from its break. Vote by other means if you like. There were lots of good ones but I had to make a choice because the poll was kaput. I chose Magdalene. Well done, M. You made me laugh.

Filibeg

Apparently filibeg is the Scottish word for kilt. Correct me if I'm wrong. I always thought kilt was the Scottish word for kilt, but there you go. Your meanings for filibeg were wonderful, even if there were fewer than usual. Perhaps everyone's busy with the festive season. Thanks to Pastor Phil for the clarification on the meaning of filibeg as Gaelic for little kilt. Very helpful. The winner, though, was Mandy, who got the most votes on a poll which was sometimes AWOL. It came back eventually with Mandy as the champ. Great work!

Nugatory

Nugatory is basically a negative word. It can be used to describe events or things that are futile, inoperative or not valid. I hope that will be useful for any of our less optimistic word imps interested in the possibility of vocabulary stretching. I thoroughly enjoyed all the invented meanings and highly recommend those of the winning duo, Aviva and Coolskoolmom. Well done, you two. Great work.

Heddles

Heddles are small cords in a weaving loom. I'm no weaver but, apparently, the warp is passed through the heddles before going through the reed. That's all gobbledygook to me but will probably be transparently obvious to a craft-minded soul. I loved the invented meanings which were, in the main, a lot easier to decipher. Congratulations to "He Might Be Giant" for an intriguing name and a great win on the poll. Drop by again soon.

Canorous

Canorous means melodious. Quite simple really. Your invented meanings were far more complicated, as I like them to be. And congratulations to Chris. Her very funny invented meaning took a well deserved 50 per cent of the votes on the poll. Great stuff.

Novercal

Novercal, oddly enough, means stepmotherly. Not sure when you would use that in a sentence, but I suppose it could appear in a fairy tale or two. Your invented meanings were wonderful, with the poll win going to Brian O Vretanos. Well done, BOV.

Harquebus

A harquebus is a gun. It's an early portable gun which was supported on a kind of tripod. Presumably an improvement on the cannon. Your invented meanings for harquebus were wonderful and two word imps tied for first place on the poll. Congrats to Thinks! and Magdalene for their great meanings.

Fealty

The real meaning for fealty is tricky but I'll give it a go. It's the acknowledgement made by a feudal tenant of fidelity to his lord. I hope that makes sense. If not, check out your own dictionary for further clarification. Something old fashioned anyway. I loved the variety of invented meanings on the blog today. And I always enjoy the meanings which manage to bring in the word imp family in some form or another. The voters agreed, so it's congratulations to Auntibeck for her amusing invented meaning. Great work, Auntibeck.

Logomachy

Logomachy is indeed about words. Several of our word imps took this tack and I enjoyed their invented meanings very much. However, the real meaning of logomachy is a dispute over words or an argument which is based on verbal points. Good to see some new names on the blog today. I hope you join us again soon. Winners on the poll, with a tie for first place, were Thesaurus Rex and Silver_flight. Great work, you two.

Gossoon

A gossoon is a lad, according to my dictionary. Not much more to add except that it's of Anglo-Irish derivation and seems to have some connection with the French garcon. So, my learning continues. Your invented meanings were inventive and lots of fun. Thanks for participating. I always appreciate it, even if I don't say! And congratulations to Loonilidi who beat her rivals on the poll today. Great work LL.

Glandiferous

Glandiferous means bearing acorns. Presumably in the form of a tree rather than a girl carrying them in a basket but you never know, I guess. Anyway, the invented meanings for glandiferous were varied and mind bending. Dancerella sat at the top of the poll with her witty meaning. Well done!

Midden

A midden is some kind of rubbish pile or dunghill, oddly enough. Apparently, it's usually a prehistoric type of rubbish heap full of shells and bones. Charming. Our invented meanings were far more romantic and we have two sharing the winner's podium today. Congratulations to Rhonda and Lorenzothellama!

Peruke

Yes, peruke is another term for wig. Not sure how or why as my dictionary wasn't telling. Our invented meanings were far more on the ball, if you ask me. Lots of variety, too, which is always good. A dedicated word imp, Brian o Vretanos, topped the poll by the tiniest of whiskers today. Great work, Brian.

Viviparous

Viviparous is a zoological term referring to those who give birth to live young as opposed to laying an egg which hatches later. I guess that makes me viviparous. If only I could pronounce it correctly! Your invented meanings were well written and fun to read, with Judi's being the deserved winner on the poll. Great work, Judi.

Murex

A murex is a shellfish. The interesting thing about the murex is its ability to produce purple dye. I like purple, so I'd probably like the murex. Your invented meanings were spot on today. Thanks for the fun. I'm happy to announce that Thinks! was today's poll winner with another great meaning. Well done.

Sistrum

A sistrum is a jingling rattle used by ancient Egyptians. I enjoyed your invented meanings for sistrum and thought they were much better than the true meaning. Raelha's meaning gained favour with the most voters - again! Great work, Raelha.

Teapoy

A teapoy, using my alliterative skills, is a tiny three-legged table for tea. It may also have four legs if preferred. So we were on the right track with our invented meanings. Herdingcats is today's winner on the poll with a very descriptive meaning. Well done!

Popliteal

Popliteal refers to the hollow at the back of the knee. So says my esteemed lexicon. Your invented meanings were well thought out and v. interesting. Thanks for taking the time to play the game. I'm always glad to have your company. The voters liked Raelha's meaning today. Great work, Raelha.

Kraken

Kraken is a mythical sea monster whose mythical home was off the coast of Norway. I haven't heard of him before, but I'll check him out in a Norwegian fairy tale book some time. I'm assuming he's male, of course. Maybe not. The voters loved the meaning suggested by Scriptor Senex today. Great work, SS. Keep it up.

Brachylogy

Brachylogy is conciseness of speech or excessively condensed speech. I'm sorry to say I'm not a brachylogist! I find them sometimes worth of admiration and sometimes frustrating. Thanks for your innovative possibilities for brachylogy. We have two winners - again. This time, it's Sandy Shoes and Thesaurus Rex. Great work, both of you.

Blindage

Blindage is a screen used as fortification by troops in sieges - presumably to keep them out of sight of the enemy. I'm not an expert on war, so I'm just surmising from the vague meaning in my dictionary. I like the sound of the word, though, and I love the invented meanings. There was a tied at the top of the poll today. The winners were Thinks! and Debra Quarles. Well done, you two.

Lixiviate

To lixiviate something is to separate it into soluble and insoluble parts by percolation in water. I never was that great at science, sorry. I know that definition will make a lot of sense to most of you, though. I rather liked the invented meanings today. Good to see some new faces and the return of some familiar ones. And well done to Brian O Vretanos - who is the winner on the poll today. Great work again, Brian.

Scopula

Those whose invented meanings involved magnifying lenses weren't far from the mark in some ways. You'd certainly need a magnifying glass to see scopula. And you'd need a dead bee. Scopulae (yes, that is the plural) are the small brushlike hairs found on a bee's legs. Not sure I've ever looked for them, but someone obviously did. Presumably, a scopula is one such hair. Magnification required to see that would probably be considerable. Look at all the learning we're doing! Chris is to be congratulated for her wonderful meaning for scopula. Thanks, Chris.

Rosolio

Rosolio is a sweet cordial which originated from a plant named sundew which I've never heard of. I'm picking the cordial is probably red but my dictionary was mum on that point. Such a drink would be nice to quaff on a warm Spring day like the one I'm experiencing here in New Zealand. Your invented rosolios were wonderful, as always. Sorry Brian, as a blonde, I couldn't put your meaning on the poll - even though I liked it! The winner, by a long way, was Raelha. Thanks, Raelha. Great work.