libero n. in volleyball, a restricted, roaming back row player. Etymological Note: From Italian adj. libero ‘free,’ a shortened form of battitore libero ‘free beater,’ a similar position in soccer that originated with a Milanese team in the late...
dead pick n.— «I’ve been trying to explain that theatre guys are also responsible for the volume of work done by arena riggers. That in some ways, even arena type point ever set is just a “dead pick” in my world, and that the...
snooker clause n. an (undebated) provision or rider covertly attached to legislation, or such legislation itself. Also snooker bill. Etymological Note: From snooker ‘to place in an impossible position; to stymie,’ from tactics used in the billiards...
spadia n.— «A lucky smattering of folks who picked up The New York Times on Monday were treated to a spadia—a strip just wider than a column, overlapping the front page, that announced the day’s highlights… As it happens, the...
dhimmi n.— «Tolerated unbelievers were called dhimmi, or ahl al-dhimma, “the people of the pact.” This was a legal term for the tolerated and protected non-Muslim subjects of the Muslim state.…The dhimma, which...
bouncebackability n.— «But if there’s one quality that Dowie’s Palace team possesses it is great “bouncebackability.” In case you are not familiar with this particular neologism let me elucidate. The origins of the word are...