beal
n.— «I think it’s the dreaded beal again. “Beal,” for those who may not be aware, is an illness characterized by having it. It’s named after the character Howard Beal in Network, and was discovered by one of my college English Lit professors. Thus: Susie: “I can’t go to class, I have beal.” Helpful questioner: “What’s beal?” Susie: “It’s the reason I can’t go to class.”» —“Beal Awareness Week” by Susie Practical Penumbra Feb. 9, 2004. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
There are eight major planets, but more than a million minor ones, including asteroids. If you discover one, you get the honor of naming it. The Dictionary of Minor Planet Names includes minor planets named for rock bands, jazz musicians, poets, and...
One of the celestial bodies listed in The Dictionary of Minor Planet Names(Amazon) is called Sumaura. It’s the name of the oldest private elementary school in Kobe, Japan, and was suggested by the discoverer’s son. This is part of a...