Sunday, 3 January 2010

eccoproctic

I realise I havn't picked any "e" words yet, so on a quick flick here is:

eccoproctic adj laxative, mildly cathartic n a laxative [Origin from Greek ekkoprotikos, from ek out of, and kopros dung] Chambers, 1998

There's three things I like about this word. Firstly, the odd, pseudo-scientific sound of it. Secondly, I think it could be widely applicable to non-dung-related situations (for example, I suspect that completing my tax return will have a fairly eccoproctic effect). Thirdly, it taught me that "kopros" is the Greek word for dung. Hooray!

2 comments:

  1. Kopros = dung, as in coprolith (fossilized dung) and coprophage (a creature which eats dung). Dung words FTW :P

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  2. Heh, dung words ftw indeed - thank you!

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