diamond n.— «First sergeants are required to be at least a master sergeant to wear a diamond on their sleeve, which is why they are sometimes referred to as “diamonds.” However, technical sergeants may be selected to hold the...
tenant command n.— «The sailor was assigned to what’s known as a tenant command, a unit that’s located on base but is not part of the chain of command.» —“Sailor’s Death Investigated” in Groton Hartford...
dog lick n.— «Dogs hoping to drink from the Hebe fountain in downtown Roseburg will have to wait a bit as the made-for-canine spigots have been sent back for repair. The two “dog licks,” as they’re called, attached to the base of the...
pull v.—Gloss: to participate in an arm-wrestling contest. «Arm wrestling—or “pulling,” as the devotee knows it—has its subtleties, believe me.…Bean is a massive, radiant, heavy-booted man in his 50s, with a white handlebar mustache...
sidewalk alumni n.pl.— «I think the fan base at Vanderbilt was just great. Tennessee dominates the state, so you had to be a great fan at Vanderbilt. I was interested that Vandy had so many sidewalk alumni, and terrific support...
volcano mulching n.— «I have seen some landscapers use very deep layers of mulch—a foot or more in tight rings around trees and shrubs. Is this a healthy practice?…This is sometimes called volcano mulching because of the steep sides...