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Weird Words for the Wise Trivia Quiz

Weird words for the wise who have a few spots left in their five-figure vocabularies.

A multiple-choice quiz by shiloh65. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
shiloh65

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
865

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Very Difficult

Avg Score
6 / 15

Plays
2111

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. What is a 'gudgeon'? Hint

Futtock

Snit

Ballcock

Pivot

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Question 2 of 15

2. 'Bumblepuppy' is another name for which of these? Hint

Stickball

Tetherball

Mumbledepeg

Pickleball

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Question 3 of 15

3. Who in the list below was the most 'lucifugous'? Hint

Dracula

Beelzebub

Sherlock Holmes

Doug Henning

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Question 4 of 15

4. 'Macaronic' refers to: Hint

a poem

Yankee's feather

a pasta

a radio

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Question 5 of 15

5. If someone calls you 'sesquipedalian', he is saying you are: Hint

fond of puns

fond of big words

fond of big feet

fond of bike racing

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Question 6 of 15

6. A 'xenopus' is an... Hint

African musical instrument

African frog

African nationalist

African cat

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Question 7 of 15

7. 'Paraphilimea' is Hint

a large plant

a collection of erotica

love of tools

love play

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Question 8 of 15

8. We've all heard the phrase 'Hoist with his own petard'. What is a petard? Hint

Knight's lance

Small explosive

Catapult

Booby-trap

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Question 9 of 15

9. If you are in a state of 'nullibiety' you are... Hint

Nowhere

Intoxicated

In Dreamland

Insubordinate

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Question 10 of 15

10. If you 'inspissate' the soup, you are Hint

thickening it

thinning it

adulterating it

adding fish stock

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Question 11 of 15

11. A 'quidnunc' is a Hint

Gossip

Clam

Donut

Currency

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Question 12 of 15

12. If you are lapidating, you are... Hint

making a mosaic

polishing stones

stoning someone to death

rock hounding

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Question 13 of 15

13. If someone calls you dirhinous, he means you... Hint

have post-nasal drip

own 2 pachyderms

have paired nostrils

talk too much

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Question 14 of 15

14. Of the list below, who was the 'Eponymous Hero'? Hint

David Copperfield

Jacob Marley

Ishmael

Rhett Butler

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Question 15 of 15

15. Leaping to the end of the alphabet what does 'zori' refer to? Hint

Silly apology

Animal spirit

African drum

Thong-type sandals

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is a 'gudgeon'?

Answer: Pivot

A gudgeon serves as the base of a rocker or wheel.

2. 'Bumblepuppy' is another name for which of these?

Answer: Tetherball

Bumblepuppy is a game played with a tennis ball slung to a post.

3. Who in the list below was the most 'lucifugous'?

Answer: Dracula

'Lucifugous' means avoiding daylight.

4. 'Macaronic' refers to:

Answer: a poem

A macaronic is a poem in which modern vernacular is mixed with Latin words or inflections.

5. If someone calls you 'sesquipedalian', he is saying you are:

Answer: fond of big words

Literally, a 'foot and a half', hence words of that length.

6. A 'xenopus' is an...

Answer: African frog

A xenopus is a frog with teeth in its upper jaw and tentacles on its head.

7. 'Paraphilimea' is

Answer: love play

What can you say about such a word?

8. We've all heard the phrase 'Hoist with his own petard'. What is a petard?

Answer: Small explosive

Derived from the French word 'peter' which means 'to break wind', a petard was used to blow up bridges, castle walls, etc.

9. If you are in a state of 'nullibiety' you are...

Answer: Nowhere

You can use this saying often: when I want something done, everyone else is in a state of nullibiety.

10. If you 'inspissate' the soup, you are

Answer: thickening it

to thicken a liquid by evaporation--to reduce, as sauce.

11. A 'quidnunc' is a

Answer: Gossip

Literally, quid nunc is Latin for 'what now', one who is prying into others' affairs. Once referred to politicians.

12. If you are lapidating, you are...

Answer: stoning someone to death

We wanted to make one of the choices 'going out with Mick Jagger' but...

Lapidary art includes polishing stones, but a lapidation is an execution - to lapidate means to stone someone to death.

13. If someone calls you dirhinous, he means you...

Answer: have paired nostrils

From the Latin: di meaning two and rhinous meaning nose.

14. Of the list below, who was the 'Eponymous Hero'?

Answer: David Copperfield

An eponymous hero is the person after whom the work is named. Oliver Twist, Lassie, or the Three Musketeers all qualify.

15. Leaping to the end of the alphabet what does 'zori' refer to?

Answer: Thong-type sandals

At the end of the summer, you never have to save your zori.

Source: Author shiloh65

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