For today’s Weird Word Wednesday, let’s look at three words which deal with the human body: Calcaneus, nyctalopia and trichotillomania.
Here’s what www.merriam-webster (unabridged edition) says about these words which are listed as advanced words in the book “How to Spell Like a Champ,” produced by The Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Pronunciation: [ kal-ˈkā-nē-əs ]
Part of speech: Noun
Definition: One of the bones of the tarsus which in humans forms the great bone of the heel homologous to the fibulare of certain lower vertebrates.
“Calcaneus.” Merriam-Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/calcaneus. Accessed 30 Jan. 2022.
Pronunciation: [ ˈnick-tuh-low-pee-uh ]
Part of speech: Noun
Definition: A defect of vision characterized by reduced visual capacity in faint light or at night, also called night blindness.
“Nyctalopia.” Merriam-Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/nyctalopia. Accessed 30 Jan. 2022.
Pronunciation: [ ˈtrick-o-till-o-main-ee-uh ]
Part of speech: Noun
Definition: An abnormal desire to pull out one’s hair.
“Trichotillomania.” Merriam-Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/trichotillomania. Accessed 30 Jan. 2022.