Link Banana

I’m pretty sure I’ll find fault with any such list that fails to include the word “marshmallow,” but Robert Beard’s is an interesting list.

(I think I also have to object to all words — especially French imports — with silent letters.)

(via kottke)

And because I haven’t done it in over a year, any nominations?

In explaining how she unintentionally made “Duro” the eponymous name for a style of dress, Erin McKean tells a cogent story about where words come from:

Someone wants an easy way to refer to something, and grabs whatever’s close to hand. Other people with the same need pick up the same tool. If the word fits, people will use it.

A conservation site for nearly dead words. You can do your part by pledging to start using a few in normal conversation.

(via BF)

A beautiful, well-designed (and apparently smut-free) alternative to Urban Dictionary, the coolest feature about Addictionary is probably that you can request a word for your definition of a new thing.

(via Neatorama)

I debated for a while whether to Twitter or post this new-to-me neologism (discovered here), I obviously chose the latter.

The etymology of this is a little vexing; my guess is that it grew out of the belief that the people who make or serve dogfood should try it before giving it to canines. Ah, Wikipedia confirms.