Yep that’s right.

Omnishambles has been declared word of the year. And not by me, but by the Oxford English Dictionary.

I’m sure that we can all guess it means “a situation which is shambolic from every possible angle”. Oh, yes, just like the BBC!

As a word I don’t like it. It is too long, too contrived, too, well … shambolic. But I have to admit it is pretty well descriptive of our times. Think just this last few weeks of Jimmy Savile, the latest BBC “McAlpine” fiasco, Abu Qatada, Abu Hamza, Italian earthquake scientists. And they’re only the ones I can think of immediately.

What I find even more amusing is that good old(ish) word (first recorded 1865 according to the OED) pleb was also shortlisted for word of the year. Now that would have been a even better choice, if only to cock-a-snook at a few people!

Piton

1. [Geology] A volcanic peak, especially a steep-sided dome, in the West Indies and other French-speaking regions.
2. [Mountaineering] A strong iron spike with an eye at one end through which a rope can be passed.

Time for another nice word …

Mendicant

1. [adj] Begging; given to or characterized by begging. Also, characteristic of a beggar. Espcially as applied to those religious orders which lived entirely on alms. The members of these orders were known as Friars; the most important were the Franciscans, Dominicans, Carmelites, and Augustinian Hermits. Also applied to Brahmin, Buddhist, etc. priests who beg for food.

2. [n] A beggar; one who lives by begging.
3. [n] A begging friar.

OK, guys & gals, time for another unusual or interesting word. Today we have:

Alectryomancy

Divination by means of a cock (preferably a white rooster) with grains of corn, usually by recording the letters revealed as the cock eats kernels of corn that cover them.

From the Greek ἀλεκτρυών (alectryon) cock + µαντεία (manteia) divination.

Pavonine

1. [adj.] Of, pertaining to, resembling or characteristic of a peacock.
2. [adj.] Resembling the neck or the tail of the peacock in colouring.
3. [Zoological] [adj.] Of or pertaining to the genus Pavo or sub-family Pavoninæ, which includes the peafowl.
4. [Zoological] [noun] A bird of the sub-family Pavoninæ.
5. [Chemistry, Geology] [noun] An iridescent lustre or tarnish found on some ores and metals.

From the Latin pāvōn-em peacock.

Gugglet, or as the OED would have it more correctly Goglet.

A long-necked vessel for holding water, usually made of porous earthenware, so that the contents are kept cool by evaporation.

From the Portuguese gorgoleta, ‘an earthen and narrow-mouthed vessel, out of which the water runs and guggles’. Also possibly the French gargoulette which has a similar meaning.

The OED records the first English use in 1698.

Kudos to my local auction house’s catalogue for teaching me a word I really didn’t know.

Ordure

1. Filth, dirt.
2. Excrement, dung.
3. Applied to that which is morally filthy or defiling, or to foul language ‘cast’ or ‘thrown’ at a person.

From the French ordure, from ord filthy, foul, which is in turn from the Latin horridus horrid.

Shittimwood

The wood of the shittah tree (a species of acacia) from which the Ark of the Covenant and furniture of the Tabernacle were made.

[From the Hebrew shiṭṭīm, plural of shiṭṭāh; original meaning unknown]

Callipygian

Having well-shaped or finely developed buttocks.
(In more modern parlance) having a nice bum.

From the Greek καλλίπῡγος, κάλλος beauty + πῡγή buttocks.

The Ancient Roman Statue Venus Callipyge is literally “Venus with the beautiful buttocks”.

Hat-tip: Steve Olle for reminding me of this superb word!

Postilion, postillion

1. A guide or forerunner.
2. One who rides a post-horse, a post-boy; a swift messenger.

   
   Post chaise with postillion

3. One who rides the near horse of the leaders when four or more are used in a carriage or post-chaise; especially one who rides the near horse when one pair only is used and there is no driver on the box.
4. Supplementary floats to prevent fishing line from sinking.
5. (verb) To insert and manipulate a finger in the anus of a sexual partner as a means of sexual excitement.