rock rental n. an automobile loaned in exchange for crack cocaine. Editorial Note: This term has been especially common in New Orleans, Louisiana. The 1998 citation suggests a gun as the item loaned, but it is the only mention found of such a trade...
spinky adj. (generally) good; neat, nifty, cool, spiffy. In the phrase spinky new, brand new. Also spinkee. Editorial Note: Rarely, spinky is used in a negative sense. The spinky in the 1986 citation could be a typographical or transcription error...
conehead n. a scientist; a brainy person. Also cone. Editorial Note: Probably influenced by pointy-head ‘a brainy or intellectual person.’ Despite what the 1997 citation says, this term is probably also influenced by a series of skits and a movie...
rocking chair job n. an occupation or employment that requires little work; a sinecure. Editorial Note: The Dictionary of American Regional English includes the term rocking-chair money, ‘unemployment compensation or another benefit paid to someone...
bastard n. a (large) tool with a rough side or edge used for smoothing or shaping. Editorial Note: A curiosity of the LOTJ editing process is that the first citation listed for it came before the second: somewhere, the definition was expanded but...
boondocking n. living without conveniences such as municipal electricity or water, indoor plumbing, or grocery stores, especially when camping with a recreational vehicle;roughing it. Editorial Note: Other variations on to boondock, according to the...
