Hyperborean

I loved my own meaning for hyperborean, but the dictionary disagrees. So here's the correct one - even though I find it quite contradictory. Firstly, it says a hyperborean is an inhabitant of the extreme north. It goes on to say it can also describe someone of a race who lives in a land of plenty - including sunshine - beyond the north wind. So there you go. In the word imp world of plenty, Madame C was today's winner on the poll. Congrats Madame C.

Gingili

Gingili is the name of an East Indian plant which produces a sweet oil of the same name. I really enjoyed your invented meanings for gingili and am very happy to announce that Hey Jude sneaked in to the winning position on the poll today. Great work HJ.

Flustra

Flustra is described in the dictionary as sea mat, which doesn't really help. It goes on to describe it as something that resembles seaweed. I kind of get the picture. I preferred your invented meanings of course, and give my wholehearted congrats to Jem who was a winner on the poll today. Well done.

Enantiomorph

Strangely enough, an enantiomorph is a mirror image - which is kind of close to one of our word imp's meanings but probably only accidentally and it's a good meaning anyway so what the heck! Well done to everyone with working through this long and tricky word. You figured out some great meanings. Top marks went to Holly Dolly who seems to be making a habit of doing well on the poll. Great job.

Digitigrade

Digitigrade is a synonym for walking on tippy toes. Fancy that! Quite fascinating really, what you learn on when you're just having a bit of fun. Of course I had a good laugh over your excellent invented meanings. Thanks for your continued support. Much appreciated and knowing you're out there helps a lot. Realityjunkie was everyone's favourite on the poll today. Well done, RJ.

Colophony

Colophony is actually quite different to the wildly imaginative ideas suggested by the equally wildly named word imps today. Colophony is a dark resin distilled from turpentine and water. My dictionary fails to explain what that dark resin is used for - and I'm happy to leave it at that. Thanks to all those who participated today and well done on the poll to Holly Dolly.

Ballyrag

To ballyrag is to indulge in horseplay and play practical jokes on people. I will try to remember that as it may come in useful. I enjoyed your invented meanings and am happy to announce realityjunkie as the top of the polls today.

Anserine

Anserine actually means silly like a goose. Weird eh? Your meanings were less silly, but lots of fun. Today's winner according to the voters was Auntibeck. Well done AB!

Yaffle

A yaffle is actually a green woodpecker. I preferred my meaning as well as those suggested by the word imps, but there's no changing it. The favourite on the poll was suggested by realityjunkie. Well done again RJ.

Wanderoo

Your meanings for wanderoo were funny and very well received. However, it's really something far more ordinary. A wanderoo is a monkey from Ceylon. That's giving away how old my dictionary is, but there you go. It was another triple win on the poll today. So congratulations to Scriptor Senex, Thinks! and silver_flight who each shared one third of the vote.

Vespertine

Posted Thursday 12 November - our 14th wedding anniversary!
Vespertine refers to anything that is done in the evening. Sounds very romantic. I shall now refer to evening time as vespertine. Mandy's invented meaning was loved by all, so well done Mandy. And thanks for your good wishes for our wedding anniversary too. It was great.

Umbles

Umbles is deer offal which is edible and - yes - if you are a long serving word imp...we have had that word before. However, it was more than two years ago so I've forgiven myself for that glitch on this one occasion. I'll try to be more diligent in future. Your meanings were outstanding and I'm happy to report a tie on today's poll between two clever cookies - Scriptor Senex and silver_flight. Well done to both of you. I couldn't choose between you either so it's a well deserved tie.

Tchick

Many of you guessed correctly that tchick is the name for a sound. The dictionary explains how to do it and says it's mostly used to direct a horse. Interesting. Your invented meanings were great and it was good to see a wide range of word imps joining us again today. The winner on the poll was the reliably hilarious Mad Fishicist. Thanks for your humour, TMF. Much appreciated.

Sockdologer

A sockdologer is a decisive argument. Not much more to be said except that I'm glad the word attracted a good number of word imps today. Well done to you all. And a very well done to our poll winner Holly Dolly.

Rochet

A rochet is a loose vestment worn mainly by bishops and abbots, according to my very knowledgeable dictionary. Your meanings for rochet were well written and well received. All three of the poll finalists scored equally, so well done to Magdalene, Auntibeck and Realityjunkie for all doing well today.

Quartan

Quartan is an illness with a fever which also includes a fit every fourth day. So, not pleasant. Thanks for your invented meanings for quartan. Lots of fun had by all and a closely fought battle on the poll was finally won by a whisker by Stephen. Well done, Stephen and the other S Men.

Pruinose

Posted Friday 6 November
Pruinose means frosted with a white powdery substance. Apparently it's a word used by natural history buffs. Not being one of those myself, I've never heard of it before. However, my famous chocolate brownie is pruinose with icing sugar. Thanks to Dancerella for a winning meaning today.

Orohippus

Orohippus is a fossil quadruped believed to be the ancestor of today's horse. Your invented meanings were imaginative and complex. Thanks for putting on the thinking caps for this one. And thanks to Lydia for a meaning which took her to the top of the poll today. Great work.

Neuroma

A neuroma is a tumour on a nerve. Sounds very painful and I hope I don't ever have to suffer from a neuroma. The word imps suggestions were all great and The Mad Fishicist has pulled the big one out of the hat this time. Good win, TMF.

Mystagogue

Well, a mystagogue actually teaches their students mystical doctrines. Your invented meanings were all great, and I'm happy to announced the Magdalene is the champ again. Great work M.