Wednesday 24 February 2010

humgriffin

Well, I know I've already had a humdudgeon, but I couldn't resist this word too. Stick a "hum" in front of anything and I'll go for it.

humgriffin or humgruffian n a terrible person. [Apparently hum (to make a sound like bees) and griffin (imaginary animal with lion's body and eagle's beak)] Chambers, 1998

It sounds like a word from a fairytale, although I'd like to reintroduce it in the context of pushy commuters.

Also, I know that "to make a sound like bees" is an accurate description of humming, but it still makes me laugh written down.

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