Spoonerisms, Alphabetically: Part Two Quiz

Answer: Keyhole

He Coal = Keyhole

The oldest known lock, dating back to around 2000 B.C., was discovered in the ruins of the Khorsabad Palace near Nineveh, the ancient capital of Assyria. This common Egyptian lock & key system was a precursor to the modern pin-tumbler type of lock.

Answer: Little Women

Whittle Lemon = Little Women

"Little Women," the story of the March girls (Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy), was written by Louisa May Alcott. The novel was published in 1868, and by popular demand was followed by a sequel ("Good Wives") in 1869. Since 1880, both parts are usually combined into one volume.

Answer: Morse Code

Course Mowed = Morse Code

Morse Code as it is known today was developed by Friedrich Clemens Gerke in 1848, and is called the Modern International Morse Code. The example I used in the question (... --- ...) spells out SOS. Morse Code as created by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail is rarely used today, and is called American Morse Code.

Answer: Notebook

Boat Nook = Notebook

The October, 1934 edition of "Popular Science" magazine had this to say about the first spiral bound notebooks:

"Use Coil Spring to Bind New Memorandum Book:
"Coil springs form flexible bindings for a new type of memorandum books. One edge of the covers and pages of the book are perforated with more than twenty holes and the coil spring is threaded through these holes to make a permanent binding."

Answer: On the Rocks

Ron the Ox = On the Rocks

It is unknown who invented the first ice cube tray, but here are some interesting tidbits on this cool subject. In 1914, Fred Wolf invented the DOMELRE (DOMestic ELectric REfrigerator). While not successful, the DOMELRE did contain a basic ice cube tray and led to the inclusion of such trays in later manufacturers' appliances. By the 1920's and '30's, freezers with ice trays were standard in electric refrigerators. The first stainless steel ice cube tray, which flexed to eject the ice cubes, was invented in 1933 by Guy Tinkham.

Answer: Postmark

Most Park = Postmark

A postmark indicates the date that the letter/package was placed into the hands of the postal service. The term "postmark" is also used to include the cancellation indicating that the stamp has been used. In the world of philately (the study/collection of stamps) lightly cancelled stamps are, at times, worth more than mint (uncancelled) ones.

Answer: Quill Pen

Pill Quinn = Quill Pen

Quill pens were used well into the 1800's, and are still used in the art of calligraphy. A quill, the feather from a large bird, would be sharpened at the end to make a pen nib. The tool used for sharpening was thus termed a penknife, and the name has continued to be used for small knives such as were originally used in the making of quill pens.

Answer: Rowboat

Bow Wrote = Rowboat

A rowboat is a small boat that requires the use of oars to propel. In rowing, unlike paddling, the oars are attached to the boat by an oarlock, whereas to paddle you simply wield an unattached oar.

Answer: Sunshine

Shun Sign = Sunshine

It takes about eight minutes for light from the Sun to travel the 93 million miles necessary to reach Earth. Despite being a relatively small star, the Sun's interior is large enough to contain 1.3 million Earths.

Answer: Typewriter

Ripe Tighter = Typewriter

The first practical typewriter was the Sholes & Glidden Type Writer, produced from 1874-1878. The now-common method of touch typing (typing not by looking at the keys, but by assigning a specific finger to each key) was reportedly invented by Frank E. McGurrin, who won an 1888 typing contest held in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A. using this technique.

Answer: User Manual

Muser Annual = User Manual

A user manual, or guide, contains directions on how to use items such as electronics and computer software. This slip-of-the-tongue Spoonerism could be used to suggest that, in order to keep the instructions fresh in mind, you might become an annual muser of your user manual.

Answer: Vital Signs

Sidle Vines = Vital Signs

Measurements of the body's basic functions are known as "vital signs." They usually include the three mentioned in the question: pulse rate (or heart rate), respiration rate (rate of breathing), and body temperature. Blood pressure is also measured while checking the vital signs. The phrase "fifth vital sign" can refer to level of pain. However, some doctors object to this classification, as pain is subjective and not a definitive sign.

Answer: Water Hose

Hotter Woes = Water Hose

As I could not cover the remaining 16 letters of the alphabet in this quiz, letter "X" got the axe. For an example of a spoonerized "X" word: "xylophone" could easily be transposed into "file a zone."

Answer: Yukon

Coo Yawn = Yukon

Yukon is Canada's smallest and westernmost territory. It is home to Canada's highest peak, Mount Logan, standing at 19,551 feet (5,959 meters). In North America, Mount Logan's height is surpassed only by Alaska's Mount McKinley (20,320 ft).

Answer: Zany

Neigh Zee = Zany

Zed, the standard pronunciation of the last letter, comes from the Greek "zeta" and the French "zede." In America, this was altered to become Zee, allowing it to rhyme with such letters as Bee, Tee, and Vee. Lye's "New Spelling Book," in 1677, was the first textbook that listed Zee as a proper pronunciation.