Viburnum

A viburnum is actually a subtropical flowering shrub which produces berry like fruits. My dictionary doesn't clarify whether these fruits are edible or deadly. Thanks to those who ventured into their creative genius to suggest invented meanings for viburnum. Guardian Etland is the winner with this concoction: The scientific term for the type of catastrophic resonance that brought down the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940. When crossing a footbridge soldiers are ordered to break step to avoid such resonance developing.

equipoise

Equipoise is perfect balance, which is pretty much what it sounds like. Some of the word imps came up with meanings that were eerily close to the truth, but more poetic than the dictionary meaning. Today's winner is Toeknee Chestnut who suggested the following:

"Equipoise is the art of maintaining a very still position for long periods of time. The best place to see equipoise in action is the street performers who paint their skin, usually gold or silver, wear clothes to match their skin paint, assume a position and don't move. People passing by stop and try to figure out if it a person or a statue."

Nonage

Nonage is a time of immaturity or being under the legal age. As predicted, the invented meanings for nonage were far more spectacular. I couldn't pick between two winners today - so congratulations to Hey Jude and Dog Mum. I hope you don't mind sharing the accolade! Here are their excellent entries which made me giggle out loud...

Hey Jude said...Nonage is the age, or state you enter when you become a grandmother. Grandfathers enter the state of popage.

Dog Mum said...Nonage is what you have when you don't have a cleavage.