The Right Word - Sometimes You Just Need to Invent a New One

I have been fascinated by words my entire life, I like to know the history behind the word, like the famous four letter word that is becoming alarmingly all too commonplace these days. It began as the abbreviation for the phrase for unlawful carnal knowledge. Which evidently got you bounced out of the English Army in the late 1800's, apparently they did not like their soldiers fraternizing with the locals.

My mother's family grew up in the Jamaica Plain section of Boston. I always thought that it was named for some topographical formation, but when I went to college, one of my English professors told me that in the early years of this country's history, what is now Jamaica Plain, was simply an outpost with an inn. Stage coachmen would stop and yell for a Jamaica Plain, which was rum, straight up and in the strange way words evolve it became the name of a section of Boston.

I wonder how someone came up with the name Clam. Not a word that readily evokes what it is. Now naming sputum that you have just coughed up a clam, I understand, as in some respects it does look like the original. Just another reason to abstain from partaking in a clam bake.

What most recently set me off thinking about words was the almost non-stop use of the word, vetting. I understand that it means to check out the background of a candidate, especially when it comes to political appointments, but where did it come from? Apparently farmers used to have a vet come and evaluate livestock that they were about to purchase and the Noun Veterinarian became the verb to vet, thus vetting.

There is a great website called Buzzwhack.com, where you can find all sorts of new words that are relative to today's life, but perhaps have yet to make it into the dictionary.

For example, Menoporsche - Male menopause - symptoms include lack of energy, crankiness and the overpowering urge to buy a porsche.

They also mention an IT term, PICNIC, its definition is : Problem In Chair, Not In Computer.

This site always inspires me to come up with a few definitions of my own. So here goes, a few new words to run by Merriam-Webster for the next edition of their dictionary:

Lawnvy - A condition suffered by suburban males, the coveting of another man's weed free expanse of lush green grass.

Bobbulitis - A condition suffered by Yes-men, due to continuous bobble head motion made when any new idea is offered by upper management.

Semi Colon- Oscopy - Business term, a test invented to determine the usefulness of of half assed ideas.

OK, those are my 3, what's yours?