Chechen ambush n.— «The insurgents had hoped to spring what is called a Chechen ambush. The strategy, Marines determined later, was to wound Marines attempting to enter the building. When other Marines came to help, an insurgent sniper...
soft client n.— «Three of those options, the VoIP, cell and desktop computer phone (a “soft client” in the parlance of geekdom), have the option of picking any area code I want the receiving party to see.» —“Really...
conehead n.— «Conehead. This has nothing to do with the space-alien routine made famous on Saturday Night Live. In Los Alamos, it means scientist, stemming from the unflattering “pointy-headed”—meaning too intellectual...
descanso n.— «[Kathleen] McRee and oral historian Troy Fernandez, both Santa Feans, have spent years researching, photographing and interviewing people about the roadside crosses known variously around New Mexico as descansos, crucitas or...
mojado n.— «Three officers with the Española Police Department called 17-year-old Juan Campos a mojado— the Spanish term for “wetback”— during a March 17 beating in his home.» —“Attorney: Cops Beat Man to ‘a...
person of interest n.— «To signify this, law enforcement officers describe these go-to folks as “persons of interest.” But White correctly notes that in the public eye, “person of interest” has become a euphemism...