"That's a great deal to make one word mean," Alice said in a thoughtful tone. "When I make a word do a lot of work like that," said Humpty Dumpty, "I always pay it extra."

Tuesday, 28 July 2009

Acnestis

 
The acnestis is the point on your back between your shoulder blades where you cannot reach to scratch. The acnestis, being a fine demonstrator of Sod's Law, is the place on the human body which is most likely to itch.

The word is not in common usage because one is usually too busy swearing to think of it.
 
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7 comments:

  1. Marc28 July 2009 at 02:44

    Ah, this post brought a smile to my face. Who knew there was a word for that terrible, terrible spot?

    ReplyDelete
  2. shabby girl28 July 2009 at 16:17

    Ain't it the truth, brother?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Saz29 July 2009 at 00:49

    well now l can swear at it by name in the shower..hasn't a ring to it rally...

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  4. Scriptor Senex29 July 2009 at 19:21

    I could swear that midges and clegs know where this spot is to be found!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Graham Edwards6 August 2009 at 18:36

    I think that there is more than one point. The coverage is symmetrical (given no joint problems or different length arms) and I think there is a point on each side of the spine. But I've been known (many times) to be wrong.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Octoberprairie30 September 2011 at 03:15

    Regarding your blog introduction: I believe author Beverly Cleary speaks of "airy persiflage" in her autobiography, "My Own Two Feet."

    What's the word for a lover of words? A logophile? If so, Long Live Logophiles!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Scriptor Senex1 October 2011 at 08:34

    Thank you, Octoberprairie. Logophile is a word I should surely have had on this blog. A serious omission!

    ReplyDelete

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