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Quiz about Odd Words
Quiz about Odd Words

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.
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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
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Question 1 of 10
1. What does PANNOSE mean? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. What is the meaning of SPIGNEL? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. What is SPHAIRISTIKE? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. What is SPHENDONE? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. What would you study if you were a professor of MYRMECOLOGY? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. What is a GRICE? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. What does NYCTANTHOUS mean? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. What is a RANTIPOLE? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. What is a TOMPION? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. What does LUCULENT mean? Hint



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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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