Breathturn (Atemwende)
A word coined by the poet Paul Celan. Edmund de Waal mentions that ‘Celan cannot find words to fit together...
A bask of crocodiles
Delightful collective noun this, suggesting a harmless creature soaking up the sun on a warm mud bank. Just don't tread...
A murder of crows
A memorable collective noun, though perhaps unfair on the poor old crow. I have a soft spot for these intelligent...
Wishing you a happy jólabókaflóð!
This lovely word is Icelandic for 'Christmas book flood'. As you may know, Iceland is home to the world's most...
With a moo, a low, and a bellow
Some things do travel well, and here we have a moo turned into a ‘mou’, as in mo-jo, so now...
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