Zzyzx - Words With Unusual Starting Digraphs Quiz

Answer: fragrant resin

Bdellium is an aromatic resin, similar to myrrh, which is found in India, Afghanistan, and Africa. From the Greek "bdellion", the term may be related to the Sanskrit, "bhidura", meaning something easily broken. Its first known usage occurred in the 14th century.

Answer: comb-like fish scales

The word ctenoid means having many tiny projections on the edge like the teeth of a comb, as in many bony fish.

The leading letter C is silent in the word ctenoid. It was derived from the Greek word for comb ("kten"), and its first known usage was 1872. It is primarily used to describe a type of fish scales.

Answer: Middle Eastern sailing vessel

The word dhow refers to an Arab lateen-rigged boat usually having a long overhang forward, a high poop, and a low waist. Dhows are sailing vessels found primarily in the Middle East. Originally they had one or two masts, although some now use motors. Their shallow draft and maneuverability are well-adapted to the Gulf waters.

The term is believed to have derived from the Persian "dav", meaning running. Its first known usage in English occurred in 1785 according to "Merriam-Webster".

Answer: medieval Italian family

The Sforza family was a medieval Italian family which ruled Milan between 1450 and 1535. Francesco Sforza founded the dynasty when he married the only heir of the Duke of Milan. The Sfora family also controlled two other cities in Tuscany. Between 1499 and 1521 control of Milan underwent several changes when the French king took control from the Sforza family and the Holy Roman Emperor restored it to the Sforzas. Eventually Francesco II Sforza died childless, and a period of Spanish rule over Milan began, ending the Sforza era.

Answer: metamorphic type of rock

Gneiss is a common and widely distributed form of metamorphic rock formed by high pressure and high temperature acting on igneous rocks, such as granite, or sedimentary rock, such as sandstone.

The word "gneiss" is derived from the German word for sparkling because the rocks tend to glitter. The first known usage of the word gneiss occurred in English in 1785.

Answer: grassland plain

The Llanos is the name for a vast grassland plain east of the Andes Mountains in Colombia and Venezuela. During the rainy season the llanos may be flooded with water up to one meter deep. Besides being a wetlands area, a significant amount of grazing and oil exploration occurs in the area.

The word "llanos" is taken directly from the Spanish word for a plain. The word is sometimes used for other grassy plains, such the American Southwest. The first known usage of llanos in English was in 1604.

Answer: memory aid

The word mnemonic is a memory aid that aids remembering other facts. A mnemonic is either a word, such as "HOMES", whose letters help remembering a fact, in this case the names of the North American Great Lakes. Or it is a collection of words, such as "Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain", whose first letters (ROYGBIV) are also the first letter of the colors of the rainbow in order.

The word mnemonic is derived from the Greek word "mnemonikos" for memory or remembrance.

Answer: wine lover

A oenophile is a lover or connoisseur of wine.

It is derived from the Greek words for wine, "oinos" and lover "philos". The first known usage of the word occurred in 1865.

Answer: German coin

The pfennig is a German coin that was originally minted in the 8th century. At that time the pfennig was a silver coin and very valuable. By the 18th century it was far less valuable when lesser value metals were used. The pfennig continued to be part of the German currency until the introduction of the Euro.

Obviously the English word "penny" is derived from pfennig.

Answer: food poisoning

Ptomaine is a generic name for nitrogen-based organic products produced from a decaying corpse. At one time it was used as a name for food poisoning, although this is no longer used by scientists.

The name ptomaine is derived from the Greek word "ptoma" for corpse. The word was first used in the 1880s.

Answer: Arctic or mountain bird

The ptarmigan is a species of grouse which inhabits tundra or cold upland areas.

The name derives from the Scottish Gaelic word for bird "tarmachan". The "p" was added to the name in the mistaken belief that the word was of Greek origin and should have had a leading "pt" to relate to the Greek word for a wing "pteron".
The first known occurrence for the word in English occurred in 1599.

Answer: slender

The word svelte is used to describe a slender figure.

The word "svelte" was derived from French by way of the Italian word for "pull out or stretch out". It has been used since the early 19th century for a slender figure. The first known usage of the word occurred around 1817, according to Merriam-Webster

Answer: cavalry unit

The word uhlan was a generic word for cavalry or lancers and the men forming those units. Originally the word was applied to the Polish cavalry wearing colorful uniforms and a distinctive lancer cap known as a czapka.

Interestingly enough the word "uhlan" is derived from the Turkic Tatar word for brave warrior or young man. During the eastern invasions of Europe the Tatars settled in Lithuania in the 14th century and influenced their military practices. During the union between Polish and Lithuania the uhlan cavalry methods were adopted by the Polish king. The usage of the word "uhlan" dates back to 1753. However, with changes in warfare the word is used primarily in a historical context.

Answer: atomic element

Yttrium is an element with atomic number 39, which is found almost always in combination with the "rare-earth" elements. It is used in the production of red phosphors, lasers, superconductors, electrodes and other modern devices.

The name derives from the Swedish village Ytterby where the noted Swedish chemist Arrhenius discovered it.

Answer: study of fermentation

Zymurgy, or zymology, is the study of the process of fermentation. The study includes the use of yeast and bacteria in the creation of alcohol, cheese, yeast-leavened breads, chocolate, and fermented foods (e.g. sauerkraut, kimchi, and soya sauce).

The word zymurgy derives from Greek word "zume" for leavened bread.