DECEPTIVE TERMINOLOGY

You might be a clatterfart and you never knew it! Discover 10 odd words

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Even if you consider yourself a skilled wordsmith, the English language can still catch you off guard. Some words that sound innocent are actually quite nasty, while others that might raise eyebrows are perfectly harmless and have entirely different meanings. For your convenience —and because they're quite amusing— we've gathered some of the foulest-sounding suspects in the dictionary. So, next time someone asks if you play the humpenscrump or whether you happen to be a ballhooter in your free time, don't rush to be offended. Read this article first!

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No, it doesn't mean anything even remotely related to what you are likely thinking. Fartlek is a Swedish term meaning "speed play." It refers to a training method used by runners that involves varying their pace throughout a run. This technique allegedly helps improve both speed and endurance, making workouts more dynamic and engaging.

That said, unless you're talking with a professional runner, we don’t recommend asking your friends or family if they fartlek daily.

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"Have you seen that pretty bumbass?" may sound questionable, but in reality, it’s a rather cute observation. Bumbass is an old dialect word from northern England that simply means bumblebee.

These mostly harmless and industrious insects are crucial for pollination and play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. So, the next time you spot a bumbass in your garden, you can refer to it by name, it won’t get offended and sting you!

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It almost feels like it’s the perfect word to call someone annoying or obnoxious. But again, its real meaning couldn’t be further from that. A pontoon is a flat-bottomed boat or a floating structure used to support bridges, docks, or piers.

Curiously, the original word is derived from Old French, and it was spelled "ponton" until World War II when American engineers added an "o" to differentiate between the bridge itself (ponton) and the floats used to provide buoyancy (pontoon).

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You can almost imagine a vile and hunched creature, muttering incomprehensible things behind your back, but perhaps that's more of a hobgoblin. A slobgollion, on the other hand, is something entirely different.

In mining terminology, slobgollion refers to a watery mixture of ore and dirt. And while it might still sound somewhat unappealing, it plays a crucial role in the mineral extraction process by assisting in the separation of valuable metals from the surrounding material.

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Smearcase is an old term for a type of cottage cheese with roots in American German communities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Baltimore. The word itself derives from the phonetic spelling of the German word Schmierkäse, which quite literally means "spreadable cheese."

You can still call someone a smearcase, I guess, but —especially if they are of German origin— they won't feel insulted in the least, though they might find you amusing.

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A haboob is a type of intense duststorm or sandstorm that occurs in arid regions, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. The term originates from the Arabic word habūb meaning "to blow."

While the term might sound like something out of a fantasy novel, haboobs are a real and significant meteorological phenomenon that affect weather patterns and daily life in the regions they impact. Today, the term is even used to describe seasonal dust storms in Arizona.

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Klaberjass is a popular card game with roots in the Netherlands and Germany, known for its complex rules and strategic play. Also known as Bela, it is part of the Jass family of card games, which enjoys widespread popularity across Europe.

The name klaberjass comes from the Dutch word klaverjas, which combines klaver (meaning "clover," referring to the suit of clubs) and jas (which means "Jack"). In this game, players use a deck of 32 cards and strive to win tricks and score points through a mix of strategy and luck. Despite its unusual name, Klaberjass is enjoyed by many for its depth and the social interaction it fosters.

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Clatterfart is an archaic term for a gossip or someone who talks too much. If you know someone who can’t keep a secret and feels compelled to talk about everything, constantly, then that person is certainly a clatterfart!

Although it doesn’t sound too nice, it’s not necessarily rude, either. A clatterfart might simply be a person who enjoys conversing with others, albeit perhaps with too much enthusiasm and energy.

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Although it would not seem out of place in the mouth of an angry medieval tavern keeper ("Begone from mine tavern, ye filthy humpenscrumps!"), the term humpenscrump is not at all what it seems.

Actually, humpenscrump is a whimsical old English word for a sort of cruder version of the hurdy-gurdy, a popular medieval musical stringed instrument played by turning a hand-crank wheel that rubs against the strings.

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Kerfuffle means a commotion or fuss, especially one caused by conflicting views. It often implies a trivial argument that has been blown out of proportion, and it is a light-hearted way to describe minor conflicts.

While its modern form dates back to the early 20th century, it has older roots. The term is an alteration of carfuffle, a Scottish word that means "agitation" or more generally, the "state of being disordered or ruffled."

FANTASTIQUE!

Bonjour! Discover Ten English Words Derived From French!

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Oh, la France! From Nobel-Prize-winning authors to delicious dishes and mouth-melting desserts, France's contributions to the world can’t be denied. However, you might be surprised to learn how deeply French culture has influenced the world we live in today. Sure, we are all aware of what the birthplace of baguettes is, but are you aware that everyday words like "scarlet" and "mortgage" come from France as well?

We have selected ten common English words that come straight from the elegant streets of Paris. Keep on reading and celebrate this wonderful exchange between our two languages. Bon voyage!

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We’ll begin with what’s probably the most well-known entry in this article. You don’t need us to tell you that "restaurant" comes from France: If English speakers were asked to say a French-sounding word on the spot, most of us would probably go straight to "restaurant". However, do you know the gorgeous, poetical meaning hidden in this everyday word?

"Restaurant" comes from 16th century France, in which this word first meant "food that restores". In French, restaurant is derived from the word restaurer, which means "to restore or refresh". Therefore, this word can literally be interpreted as a place that serves food so good that it can restore you.

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Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter is an American classic and an argument could be said that the sharpness of its title adds to the gravitas of this novel. Do you think we would remember Hester Prynne’s troubles and tribulations if the novel was called "The Bright Red Letter"? No, "scarlet" definitively is a better fit, and we can thank the French language for this colorful word.

The word "scarlet" comes from escarlate, an Old French word that means "a type of cloth". Interestingly, escarlate itself comes from scarlatum, a Medieval Latin word of unknown origin that translates to "a scarlet cloth".

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The addition of "cushion" to this list might come as a surprise, but let’s try something: say the word "cushion" out loud. Doesn’t it vaguely resemble a French-sounding word? Try repeating the word a few times, perhaps while pretending you are enjoying a warm drink in a cozy French cafe.

This bit of roleplaying notwithstanding, "cushion" comes from the Middle English word quysshyn, which in turn comes from the Old French word coissin. In turn, this word evolved into coussin, currently used by French speakers everywhere.

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Considering the world’s most famous portrait calls the Louvre Museum its home, it seemed only fair that we included this word on our list. "Portrait" comes from the Old French portraire, which means "to portray". However, it should also be noted that the word "portrait" has evolved rather similarly in both English and French, up to the point that currently both words are spelled in the exact same way.

The root behind both the English and French words is the Latin prōtrahō. As any Latin scholar could tell you, understanding the inner workings of this ancient language can be rather tricky: At first glance, prōtrahō means "I drag". However, another definition of this term could be translated as "to reveal" or "to expose", which seems a more faithful root behind our modern understanding of what a portrait is.

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We placed this item in the exact middle of this article for a reason: Time to take a little detour. Well, not really, we are still going to focus on etymology, but let’s think about this middlepoint as a breather of sorts. After all, while having to take a detour on your way to work is certainly annoying, some changes in direction offer a whole different scenery for us to enjoy, and sometimes, a new road might bring a whole new meaning to the trip we find ourselves on.

Feeling refreshed? Great! Now let’s go back to the subject at hand. The word "detour" was borrowed from the French word détour, which in turn comes from the verb détourner (turn away). Our English word is practically identical to its French counterpart, although its pronunciation is definitively different.

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Paris is famous for its elegant, world-class hotels. From the Ritz to the Plaza Athenee, visitors everywhere know that a night spent in one of these hotels is a night spent in comfort and luxury. In that regard, the hospitality world has a lot to thank France for, besides setting the bar on splendid accommodation. How about, for starters, we thank the French language for providing the word "hotel" itself?

The French word **hôtel**is one of the most borrowed words in modern history, considering that several countries use this word with little to no variations. In that regard, hôtel comes from the Latin word hospitālis, which can be translated to "hospitable" or as "guesthouse".

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While this word is obviously French, the story of how this peculiar color got its name is particularly interesting. The French word "turquoise" has remained practically unchanged since its adoption by the English-speaking world: only its pronunciation has slightly changed. Not only that, turquoise is the same term used in Old French for this color, during the time period this word was first introduced.

Interestingly, the etymology of this word doesn’t describe anything related to the tones or characteristics of this color, but it does focus on its origins.Turquoise is derived from the Old French words turc and ois, and it roughly translates to "Turkish stone". This relates to the fact that turquoise stones were brought over to Europe through Turkey.

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Not every word in this list can be pleasant. Let’s try to push through this one, we promise that the last two entries are way more fun. The mere mention of the word "mortgage" is enough to keep millions of English speakers awake at night, as if this common bank loan was some kind of adult version of the boogeyman. In any case, if you happen to be one of those unfortunate souls terrified by the mere mention of a pending mortgage, you should know you can blame the French language for this awful-sounding word.

Even the etymology of this word is slightly creepy: it comes from the Old French termmort gage, which roughly translates to "dead pledge". Luckily, it doesn’t involve any morbid subjects: the dead part of the term is derived from the fact that any interest would be paid to the lender and not deducted from the loan owed.

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Parachuting is one of those things that took a fear as primal as falling and turned it into something fun. While definitively not for everyone, it is highly recommended to anyone who feels at least a little bit like a daredevil, looking for that adrenaline rush that only these types of activities can provide.

For such an exciting hobby, the etymology of this French word is rather straightforward: It comes from the combination of para (protection against) and chute (fall). Just like with "restaurant", this word remains relatively unchanged in the English language, with only the pronunciation varying.

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We’ll end with one of the world’s favorite pastimes. Going to the movies is a universally beloved experience, and one that has transcended decades ever since its invention. From your children to your grandparents, every single generation in modern history has at least a few treasured memories that took place in front of a silver screen.

In that regard, the word "cinema" is as old as movies themselves: it comes from cinématographe, a term coined by the groundbreaking French filmmakers the Lumiere Brothers. Cinématographe comes from the amalgamation of the Ancient Greek words kínēma, which means "movement, and gráphō, meaning "to record" or "to write".