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Odd Words Trivia Quiz

I love unusual words. Here are 10 I found recently - all you have to do is tell me what they mean. All definitions are from Chambers 20th Century Dictionary.

A multiple-choice quiz by Mink. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Mink

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
87,504

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
939

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What does PANNOSE mean? Hint

Like bread

Having a nose like a flute

Pan-shaped

Like felt

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Question 2 of 10

2. What is the meaning of SPIGNEL? Hint

A type of tap

A European mountain plant

A breed of pig

A type of paper

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Question 3 of 10

3. What is SPHAIRISTIKE? Hint

Tennis

An old name for a bicycle

An ancient hair style

A type of moss

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Question 4 of 10

4. What is SPHENDONE? Hint

A musical instrument

A headband

A chemical compound

An award for achievement

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Question 5 of 10

5. What would you study if you were a professor of MYRMECOLOGY? Hint

Soil

Mermaids

Ants

Fungi

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Question 6 of 10

6. What is a GRICE? Hint

A little pig

A sort of loose gravel

A type of breakfast cereal

A method of cooking

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Question 7 of 10

7. What does NYCTANTHOUS mean? Hint

Belonging to the devil

Flowering at night

A type of house found in Russia

Blinking

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Question 8 of 10

8. What is a RANTIPOLE? Hint

A tadpole

A type of Maypole

A wild, reckless person

A plant

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Question 9 of 10

9. What is a TOMPION? Hint

A musical instrument

a breed of cat

A watch

A flower

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Question 10 of 10

10. What does LUCULENT mean? Hint

Like a pike

Oily or greasy

Bright, clear or convincing

Isolated or alone

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What does PANNOSE mean?

Answer: Like felt

This is from the Latin pannus which means cloth

2. What is the meaning of SPIGNEL?

Answer: A European mountain plant

This is a plant from mountain areas in Europe. It is also know as baldmoney or meu. The origin is obscure.

3. What is SPHAIRISTIKE?

Answer: Tennis

This was the original name under which Walter Wingfield patented the game of tennis in 1874! It was widely known as this for a while until tennis became the common name - thank goodness! It comes form the Greek sphairistike techne - the art of playing ball.

4. What is SPHENDONE?

Answer: A headband

This was a headband worn by women in Ancient Greece and came form the word shendone which means a sling.

5. What would you study if you were a professor of MYRMECOLOGY?

Answer: Ants

Yes - the study of ants! From the Greek again - myrmex meaning ant

6. What is a GRICE?

Answer: A little pig

From the old Norse griss. Makes a change form piglet!

7. What does NYCTANTHOUS mean?

Answer: Flowering at night

From the Greek nyktos - night - and anthos - flower. Not a very common state of affairs for most plants but an interesting word.

8. What is a RANTIPOLE?

Answer: A wild, reckless person

Yes - a wild reckless person. It may come from the word rant - or not, no-one's sure.

9. What is a TOMPION?

Answer: A watch

It refers to a watch of the kind made by Thomas Tompion who lived between 1639 and 1713 and so isn't much use as a word except to antique chronometer experts but I liked it!

10. What does LUCULENT mean?

Answer: Bright, clear or convincing

From the Latin - lux - meaning light. Same root as lucid.

Source: Author Mink

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor thejazzkickazz before going online.
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