For today’s Weird Word Wednesday, let’s look at three words related to sports and games: Chouette, snipsnapsnorum and toxophilite.
Pronunciation: [ shüˈet, ˈshwet ]
Part of speech: Noun
Definition: A method of scoring by which more than two persons can participate in a two-handed game (such as backgammon), one player accepting the bets of all other players on the result of a game between that player and one other active player.
Language origin: French
“Chouette.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chouette. Accessed 17 Dec. 2021.
Pronunciation: [ ¦snipˌsnapˈsnōrəm, -nȯr- ]
Part of speech: Noun
Definition: A game in which one player lays a card on the table, the others in turn must match its rank if able, the first to do so says snip, the second snap, and the third snorum, and the winner is the one who gets rid of all his cards first; also called Earl of Coventry.
Language origin: Low German
“Snipsnapsnorum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snipsnapsnorum. Accessed 17 Dec. 2021.
Pronunciation: [ täk-ˈsä-fə-ˌlīt ]
Part of speech: Noun
Definition: A person fond of or expert at archery.
Language origin: Latin and Greek
“Toxophilite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toxophilite. Accessed 17 Dec. 2021.