Habergeon

A habergeon is s sleeveless coat of mail - the mail used in armour rather than the mail which gets delivered by posties. Thanks for your enjoyable meanings. Magdalene was the winner on the day. Great work!

Eldritch

Eldritch, oddly enough, is an adjective meaning weird and hideous. It's derivation is Scottish, if that helps. So, very eldritch - as were some of today's meanings. Thanks for that, I think. The poll winner was Thesaurus Rex. Well done, and well named.

Swimmeret

A swimmeret is the swimming foot found on crustaceans. I'll look forward to my next trip to the beach now, with that little bit of trivia stored away in the appropriate memory bank. I had lots of laughs reading the invented meanings and particularly enjoyed those suggested by joint winners, Brian O Vretanos and Sandy Shoes. Well done, you two.

Tragopan

A tragopan is actually a horned pheasant. So, not too far off some of the invented meanings when you think about it. Thanks for your meanings. Lots of people loved the meaning suggested by Mandy. Well done, Mandy. You're the winner!

Ruckle

There are two kinds of ruckle. One is a crease or a wrinkle and the other is the gurgling sound in the throat of a dying person. Charming. Wouldn't want to get them mixed up. I enjoyed the blog meanings immensely and offer a hearty congratulations to poll winner, Oso Butterfly.

Levirate

A levirate is a custom where a dead man's brother or next of kin was required to marry his widow. Interesting. The invented meanings were also fascinating and two word imps topped the poll. Congratulations to Stephen and Flamingo.

Bunco

To bunco someone is to swindle them - especially via being a card sharp or a confidence trickster! So, watch out. Be careful of the dastardly bunco. The blog meanings were lots of fun too, with the favourite on the poll invented by Father Ann. Congratulations!

Exordium

An exordium is the introduction to a discourse or treatise. Strange that. I would have thought it would have been a better word to describe the middle or end of a discourse or treatise - particularly one which is long and tedious. However, I'm no lexicographer. The three meanings on the poll all received a similar number of votes, but the meaning invented by Chris came out on top. Well done, Chris.

Floruit

A person's floruit is the time they were alive. Apparently, it's a particularly useful word to describe the expanse of time a person was alive if there was no actual record of birth and death dates for that person. Hopefully that's clear. If not, feel free to resort to the invented meanings which were stunning, as always. The top three were very close in the voting and the top two tied. So it's congratulations to Sara and Shari, both winners today. Well done.

Tacamahac

Tacamahac is a bit like it sounds. It's gum resin from certain South American trees and comes from an old Aztec word. Plenty of variety on the blog today, including some fascinating camp reminiscences. Thanks for all your contributions. Raelha drew the most votes today. Congratulations and thanks for another great meaning, Raelha.

Scumble

Scumble is a thin layer of paint placed over a darker colour. It's also the verb to describe the action of painting a thin layer over a darker layer of paint. The artists among us would have known that one, I imagine. Thanks for your very inventive meanings. I enjoyed them immensely. The Mad Fishicist won on the poll today. He's hard to beat, I must admit. Well done, TMF. Glad to have you back.

Mixen

Surprisingly, a mixen is otherwise known as a dung hill. Of course, the invented meanings were far more enlightening and I especially liked the verse from Loonilidi which appeared not to be an entry but, instead, a composition in support of another invented meaning. Thanks for that Loonilidi. Very clever, indeed. The winner on the poll today was Father Ann. Great work and very funny.

Bittock

Well, the real meaning for bittock was much easier than any of us probably imagined. It's a little bit. That will come in very handy when, on the odd occasion, I want only a small amount of something. It will be fun to ask for a bittock, please. I hope you'll find the word equally as useful. The meaning invented by Lorenzothellama was the favourite on the poll today. Great work!

Conventicle

A conventicle is actually a secret religious meeting or, alternatively, a building for holding secret religious meetings. Mmmmm. Very Interesting. I can't think of a time when I'll need to know that, but I'm intrigued nevertheless. Your invented meanings were equally intriguing and Magdalene's was the favourite amongst poll voters. Well done, Magdalene.

Scrod

A scrod is actually a fish, specifically a young cod or haddock. Some of today's invented meanings left me feeling a little squeamish, but I still enjoyed them all. The meaning invented by Maalie was a favourite with the voters. Congratulations, Maalie. Well deserved.

Concettism

Concettism is a flash way of describing the use of fanciful turns of phrase in literature. Not that we ever do that on this blog, of course! The word comes from the Italian language, in case you hadn't noticed. But it featured in my English dictionary so that's good enough for me. The invented meanings were great, with Brian O Vretanos running away with a healthy win on the poll. Great work, Brian.

Discobolus

A discobolus is a statue of an ancient metal quoit thrower. So says my dictionary. I'm assuming the "metal quoit" is the precursor of today's discus. I'm happy to be corrected on that though. Anyway, some interesting invented meanings came out of the woodwork and the winner on the poll was created by Judi - who is always reliably creative! Thanks again Judi - I think! - for painting a rather frightening picture for us all.

Rivage

A rivage is a poetical term for a shore, bank or coastline. I'll remember that next time I'm delving into that particular literary style. For now, though, I'm happy to dwell on the invented meanings which took a wide variety of directions, all clever and innovative. I particularly enjoyed the meaning invented by Bee - and so did the voters. Great work, Bee. I believe you!

Lampion

A lampion is a pot made from coloured glass which contains oil and a wick and is used to provide light. Quite simple really. Some very interesting invented meanings came to light today. Many of us enjoyed the efforts of a newcomer named Hebegb. Congratulations on topping the poll and please visit again, Hebegb.

Solidungular

A solidungular creature is, in fact, a member of the horse family. Solidungular means solid hoofed. Thanks for your creativity on the blog today. Thinks! was the winner on the poll. Good thinking, thinks!

Grimalkin

A grimalkin is actually an old female cat or, alternatively, a spiteful old woman. Useful! Thanks for your fabulous range of invented meanings for grimalkin. My life as a word imperfect judge is difficult, to say the least. Congratulations to Mandy, who was the winner on the poll today. Great work, Mandy.

Estovers

Estovers are necessary supplies allowed for by law. Alimony for a spouse would be considered as estovers. The dictonary explains other examples for those with a need to know. All sorts of interesting invented options appeared on the blog today, with the offering of Oso Butterfly taking a large number of votes to top the poll. Well done, OB.

Scaramouch

A scaramouch is a boastful, bragging type of person. Plenty of fabulous meanings were suggested on the blog, which caused no end of difficulty for me. Three were finally chosen for the poll and the meaning invented by Lorenzothellama was a standout winner. Congrats, Lorenzo!

Radix

A radix is a number or symbol which is the basis of a numeration system. Our decimal system has a radix of 10. Easy! I can remember that. I don't remember learning it in maths though. The meanings invented by silver_flight and duckman both achieved the highest score on the poll. Well done, both of you.

Theorbo

A theorbo is a musical instrument. It's a two necked lute used in the seventeenth century. Some fascinating meanings made it to the blog today. There was a tie at the top of the poll and the joint winners are Aviva and Sandra Dodd. Well done, you two!

Postiche

A postiche is interesting and will be a handy word to have around - if we can remember it when we need it, that is! A postiche is anything which is added after something has supposedly been completed. Apparently, it's a particularly apt word to describe something superfluous which has been tacked on to the end of a sculpture or piece of architecture. Alternatively, it's a synonym for artificial or counterfeit. So, quite fascinating and useful at the same time. The meaning invented by Chris was great and the voters agreed, making it the winner. Well done, Chris.

Quantivalence

Quantivalence is indeed a chemistry term. It's the extent to which an atom can hold other atoms in combination. I was never a chemistry star, so please forgive me if that doesn't make a lot of sense. Some fabulous invented meanings made it to the blog and Judi's was certainly one of them. I'm sure many of us have experienced her version of quantivalence. I know I have! Thanks, Judi. You're today's winner on the poll.

Orogenesis

Orogenesis is quite important. It's the process by which mountains are made. Presumably out of mole hills. Could be a useful word in an argument. Lots of word imps joined in with their invented meanings, but the winner on the poll - and one that impressed me a lot - was written by Stephen. Great work, Stephen.

Morganatic

Morganatic actually described a type of marriage. It was the kind where the man was of higher rank than the woman (whatever that means), and where the woman didn't rise to the rank of her husband as a result of the union. Therefore, the children couldn't claim the possessions or title of their father. Odd. Obviously something from days gone by. I hope that means something to someone. Raelha's invented meaning was enjoyed by many and she is the official winner for the day. Congratulations, Raelha!

Fenks

Fenks are the fibrous parts of whale blubber or, alternatively, the remaining substance after whale blubber has been melted. I think I need a lie down after that one. Fortunately, I've got the invented meanings to fall back on. Thanks for the vast array. Sometimes, simple is best. That's often true for Coolskoolmom and was definitely true of her wonderful meaning for fenks. Thanks, Coolskoolmom. I think most of us related all to easily to your definition.