http://www.worldwidewords.org Copyright 1997-2009 Michael Quinion World Wide Words examines the English language from a British viewpoint. It discusses word histories, new words, the background to words in the news and problems of English usage. webmaster-rss@worldwidewords.org (Michael Quinion) rss@worldwidewords.org (Michael Quinion) Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT en-gb 1440 http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-tab1.htm <i>Tabnabs</i> are cakes and pastries served aboard British merchant ships. Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-tab1.htm http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-col5.htm Once upon a time, <i>Colcannon Night</i> was an anternative name for Halloween. Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-col5.htm http://www.worldwidewords.org/reviews/re-bre1.htm Reviews of <em>Brewer&rsquo;s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable</em> and <em>Brewer's Dictionary of London Phrase and Fable</em> Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.worldwidewords.org/reviews/re-bre1.htm http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-wit3.htm When is the <i>witching hour</i>? Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-wit3.htm http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-nih1.htm The German word <i>Nihilartikel</i>, literally a nothing article, has been borrowed for deliberately false entries in reference works designed to reveal copyright theft. Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-nih1.htm http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-anf1.htm <i>Anfractuosity</i> is a rare word, but a useful one to describe a maze-like jumble of any kind. Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:00:00 GMT http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-anf1.htm