olf n. a scientific measure of indoor odor intensity. Etymological Note: olfaction unit, from the Latin olfactus ‘the action or capacity of smelling; the sense of smell.’ Coined by Danish scientist Povl Ole Fanger in 1987. The first cite is his...
throw shade v. phr. to take a superior attitude; to criticize, demean, or insult; to diss or derogate. Editorial Note: This term has is most often associated with Black English, but it is also said to be used among gay and cross-dressing performers...
stooshie n. a fight; a fuss, commotion, or to-do. Etymological Note: According to the Dictionary of the Scots Language, under the spelling stashie this term dates to at least as early as 1824. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
dodgepot n. originally, a race horse that is heavily favored but has mixed success; (hence) a quirky or eccentric person. Etymological Note: The information given in Gerald Hammond’s The Language of Horse Racing is probably correct, that dodgepot is...
spooty adj. bad, crappy. Also n., something that is bad or crappy. Editorial Note: The use of spooty in the first citation is probably a typographical error for spotty, meaning “pimply.” Etymological Note: Probably popularized by the...
deckle n. a thick band of fat on (a cut of) meat; a very fatty cut of meat. Etymological Note: Mostly likely connected to German dicht ‘thick,’ dick ‘thick’ or ‘fat,’ or Dicke ‘fat person, a fatty.’ The prefix dick- is used to to indicate...