Pam Webb

Word Nerds: Sniglets

Sniglets is a clever book by Rich Hall (and friends) in which the reader will discover a collection of words that do not appear in the dictionary, but should. Below are several examples:

ambiportalous (am bit port’ atl us) adj. Possessing the uncanny knack for approaching a set of double doors and always pushing the locked one.

aqualibrium (an we lib’ re um) n. The point where the stream of drinking fountain water is at its perfect height, thus relieving the drinker from (a) having to suck the nozzle, or (b) squirting himself in the eye.

bovilexia (no him eks’ uh) n. The uncontrollable urge to lean out the car window and yell “moo!” when passing a cow.

carperpetuation (kar’ pur pet u a shun) n. The act, when vacuuming, of running over a string or a piece of lint at least a dozen times, reaching over and picking it up, examining it, then putting it back down to give the vacuum one more chance.

cinemuck (si’ he muk) n. The combination of popcorn, soda, and melted chocolate which covers the floors of movie theaters.

elecelleration (am a cam at ay’ shun) n. The mistaken notion that the more you press the elevator button the faster it will arrive.

flirr (flur) n. A photograph that shows the finger of the person who took the picture.

glackett (glak’ it) n. The noisy ball inside a spray paint can.

hangle (han’ gul) n. A cluster of clothes hangers.

niz (niz) n. An annoying hair at the top of a movie screen.

phonesia (to nee’ zhuh) n. The affliction of dialing a phone number and forgetting whom you were calling just as they answer.

trickle (thri’ kle) n. The itch at the back of the throat which can not be relieved without making disgusting sounds.

zibula (zi’ bew luh) n. The plastic spine which model car parts come attached to.

The only sniglet I recognized was “spork” that amazing blend of spoon and fork that so often is found accompanying take out these days. Tom Hall, unfortunately, cannot claim the fame of inventing the word. That honor goes to a nameless hero who formed ridges on the wooden ice cream spoon; however, in 1951, inventor Hyde W. Ballard trademarked the word “spork” with the Van Brode Milling Company, and then filed a patent to make plastic sporks at a later date.

Sporks–they can be found everywhere: