paper barrel
n.— «Between 2002 and the present, MacIntyre said, trading in the West Texas crude jumped from 78 million barrels a year to 86.4 million barrels. Such trading involves what are called “paper barrels.” A buyer need not take what is known as “wet delivery.”» —“A real pain in the gas” by Roger Phelps Folsom Telegraph (California) June 24, 2008. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Brian in San Antonio, Texas, wonders about the origin of the pinkingin the term pinking shears. Such shears cut an even, zigzag pattern that keeps cloth from fraying at the edges. Pinking likely comes from French piquer, meaning to...
Allyn from North Dallas, Texas, who hosts a YouTube show about knitting called Sal & Al: The Woolslayers, emails the show to share some favorite slang used by knitters. LYS stands for one’s Local Yarn Shop, as opposed to a big-box store...