Scammony

Scammony is actually an Asian plant which yields a gum resin used as a "drastic purgative". Scary. Your meanings were slightly less frigtening, but I still don't have a poll so I can't get people to vote. However, I would have chosen these three for the poll: Scriptor Senex, Empath and Chris.

Mesial

Mesial actually means in the middle line of the body. Our tummy buttons are mesial then. And so are our noses. Perhaps a medical person can correct me if I've got that wrong. I could use that word now and again to good effect. The poll still seems to be "encountering problems" so I'll just say that my favourite three of some great meanings were from Thinks!, Lorenzothellama and Sandra Dodd.

Sinistral

Sinistral means on the left, with particular reference to the spirals on certain shells which have whorls going towards the left as opposed to the more normal right hand direction. Can't say I've noticed that myself but I'll have a look next time I'm down at the beach. A couple of our clever word imps found ways of including the real meaning with their invented meanings. That's always fun. Thanks for all of today's contributions - it was good to see a wide variety of meanings. Because the poll wouldn't work, I had to rely on guesswork. I've made Stephen and Empath joint winners - mainly because I can. Thanks, both of you.

Opisometer

An opisometer apparently measures curved lines like the ones on a map. It's a wheel running on a screw, or so my dictionary puts it. I don't have a need for an opisometer at this stage, but I enjoyed the ideas of our word imps and have put three on the poll for voters. As the poll isn't working at the moment, I'm not sure who our winner is. You'll know as soon as I do, or vice versa!

Ingravescent

Ingravescent is medical term which means getting worse. Scary, eh? I hope none of the word imps have to hear that from a doctor any time soon. Fortunately, the infection at the bottom of my foot (from playing in a river) is not ingravescent any more. It's the opposite, at last. By the way, your invented meanings were appreciated. Thanks and congratulations to Maalie for a winning entry on the poll. Great work.

Jink

To jink is to dodge something. It's also a slang term for an aircraft manoevre which dodges enemy fire. So if you spot someone in the street who you'd rather not speak to, you can jink them by turning into the nearest shop. However, they've more than likely seen you anyway. Happy jinking. And well done to Richard who got the most votes on today's poll. Excellent work, Richard.

Crapulent

When you are unfortunate enough to be crapulent, you are suffering the ill effects of an overindulgence in food and/or alcohol. I think some people shorten it to saying they "feel like crap". Now we know. Great word. Wonderful meaning. Use it well. Your meanings were equally wonderful and the voters chose the meaning suggested by The Chindo as today's favourite. Great work, TC and welcome back.

Suffragan

A suffragan is an assistant bishop. Not sure how much suffering is involved there. Perhaps some suffragans out there will be able to throw a bit of light on that. Well done to The Encourager for winning on the poll today.

Keek

A keek is a Scottish peep. Strangely close to the meaning suggested by Lorenzo. Perhaps it was too easy for some of my Brit word imps. Nevertheless, the meanings were fun and frivolous which is always a good thing. And you won't believe it, but Magdalene has scooped the poll again. You're on form this year Magdalene.

Reddle

Reddle is red ochre. Your creative meanings for reddle were far more interesting. Thanks for that. Magdalene is a winner again. Great work, M.

Brobdingnag

Brobdingnag, as Gulliver's Travels fans would know, is the Land of the Giants. I won't be going there any time soon. Thanks for your wonderful range of entries. Scaredy Cat will be pleased to have made it to the top of the poll. Great work, Scaredy Cat.

Clerihew

A clerihew is a short, funny verse which usually contains four lines. You'd think I would know that, considering I'm an author. But I didn't. I enjoyed your invented meanings for clerihew very much. Thanks for your participation. Flamingo is today's poll topster. Is that a new word? Great work anyway, Flamingo.

Saloop

Saloop is a actually a dubious sounding but apparently nutritious coffee substitute formerly sold at London street stalls. Perhaps the London word imps can enlighten us further. Your invented meanings were interesting and various. Thanks for contributing. Magdalene kept her place on the top seven by winning today's poll. Great work, Magdalene.

Knurl

A knurl is apparently the knob on a typewriter for turning the platen. My dictionary says it's also a ridge in metalwork although that's not something I can really relate to. I admired the creativity which went into the invented meanings on the blog today. Great work, word imps. And special congrats to Sandra Dodd who's been particularly diligent these last few days and has finally won on the poll. Great work.

Transuranic

How silly we were! Of course, transuranic means having a higher atomic number than uranium. Doh! Well, science was never my strong point. I kept getting distracted by the science teacher's knobbly knees. I enjoyed the range of invented meanings on the blog for transuranic and am happy to announce Thesaurus Rex as the decisive winner on today's poll. Welcome back T Rex.

Pasquinade

A pasquinade is a scurrilous piece of written satire posted in a public place - presumably to cause the most embarrassment possible. Unsurprisingly, none of the invented meanings were close to that. However, they were all delightful and each had a certain ring of truth. Well done to Lorenzothellama who wowed the most voters on the poll. Great work, Lorenzo.

Darkle

Darkle does mean to grow dark. It also means to lie concealed somewhere. So darkle is just as mysterious as it sounds. Thanks for the meanings today. It was good to arrive at our holiday destination after a four hour drive and discover that the word imps had been happily beavering away as always. Congratulations and welcome back to Raelha who was today's poll winner. Great meaning!

Udometer

An udometer is a rain gauge. Wonderful. I have an udometer at home. Thanks for your interesting meanings. I enjoyed the variety and am pleased to announce that The Encourager was the winner on today's poll. Well done.

Tomalley

Tomalley is apparently a Caribbean term for a sauce which is made from the liver of a lobster. Surely that can't be right but it's my interpretation of the dictionary definition. Sounds weird anyway. And nothing much to do with cats, oddly. Your invented definitions, however, conjured up weirdness of a different nature, mainly rancid and fetid smells. Thanks for that. And thanks to Merriam for the diligence required to win on the poll. Great work!

Blottesque

A blottesque, funnily enough, is a painting featuring heavily blotted touches. Quite accidentally almost the same meaning as the one invented by Lorenzothellama. Thanks to everyone for coming back and playing the game again. I'm buoyed by the increased numbers and feeling happy again. And I'm sure Magdalene will be over the moon due to yet another win on the poll. Just too good. Speaking of too good, where's The Mad Fishicist these days anyway?

Bezonian

A bezonian is actually a rascally beggar. Intriguing. I enjoyed the small number of invented meanings for bezonian. Our runaway winner was Thinks! who was obviously living up to his (or her) name. Well done, Thinks!

Hellbox

A hellbox is harmless really. It's a box used by printers in former times for holding broken or discarded type. Not sure why it received such a fraught name but perhaps someone with knowledge of the printing industry will enlighten us through the blog. The idea of a hellbox certainly opened up a can of worms among our word imps today. Hope you're all feeling a lot happier by now. Sara will be pleased to know that her invented meaning drew the most votes and took her to the top of the poll today. Great work!

Narthex

A narthex is the lobby of an early church. Thanks for your interesting invented meanings for narthex. They were very well crafted, if completely false. Richard's took the cake - and the poll votes - for being so technically complicated that it was a sure winner. Well done, Richard - and welcome to the game.

Spiflicate

Spiflicate is apparently the slang word used by Brit school kids for destroy or annihilate. Thanks to Thinks! for the further information on spiflicate. I enjoyed the invented meanings. Thanks for making the time to play. We have yet another tie on the poll. Today it's Floribunda and Thinks! Great work.

Fascicle

A fascicle is a bundle. It's also an installment of a book. Interesting. I shall keep that up my sleeve for future reference. If only I could figure out the pronunciation. Oh, here it is. Fassicle. Moving right along now. Two word imps received equal votes on the poll today. Congratulations (and welcome back) to Raelha and The Encourager. Great work, both of you.

Quebracho

Quebracho is a South American tree with hard wood and medicinal properties. Thanks for your invented meanings. I appreciated your dedication at holiday time. That dedication paid off for dual winners on the poll today, Thinks! and Magdalene. Great work, both of you.