grapling
n.— «The men and boys would wade out into the waters of the Savannah, and it was called graplin’. They would run their hands under the rocks and grab an object that was not a rock. Many times I saw a snake being hurled across the water. Some wiser and experienced men would fix a hook on a thimble and grab, therefore the term, grablin.’» —“Jolly green johnny” Independent-Mail (Anderson, S.C.) July 17, 2005. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Book recommendations and the art of apology. Martha and Grant share some good reads, including an opinionated romp through English grammar, a Spanish-language adventure novel, an account of 19th-century dictionary wars, and a gorgeously illustrated...
Book recommendations, including a collection of short stories inspired by dictionaries, and a techno-thriller for teens. Or, how about novels with an upbeat message? Publishers call this genre up lit. Plus, a clergyman ponders an arresting phrase in...