A Way with Words

Belligerent Doesn’t Mean Drunk

Posted by Grant Barrett on April 3, 2017 · Add Comment

Some people, particularly younger folks, are adamant that the term belligerent means “drunk.” It’s a misanalysis of the word, perhaps associating being intoxicated with being ready to fight. Instead, belligerent derives from the Latin word bellum, meaning “war,” also found in bellicose, and the term applied to that period before a war, particularly the U.S. [...]

snorage

Posted by Grant Barrett on June 21, 2009 · Add Comment

snorage n.— Note: A derogatory play off of the word “storage,” referring to digital data storage devices. «Such a bidding war brings some unaccustomed excitement to what has been referred to as the “snorage” market. It also reflects the growing demand for storage services and the particular value placed on Data Domain’s “deduplication” expertise, which saves [...]

reset button

Posted by Grant Barrett on March 29, 2009 · Add Comment

reset button n.— «Colin Powell put it well when he said that the 9-11 attacks “set the reset button” on U.S. foreign and military policies. This restructuring of the global disorder predated 9-11.» —“Bush’s War: Where is it going & What Should We Do About It?” by Joseph Gerson ZNet Mar. 18, 2002. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)

AFPAK

Posted by Grant Barrett on February 23, 2009 · 1 Comment

AFPAK n.— Note: A blend of AFghanistan and PAKistan. «In the two-front war that Washington is now calling “AFPAK,” there’s more head-scratching going on than is immediately visible. Yes, President Barack Obama last week approved a Pentagon request to send 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan. But at the same time, he has ordered a strategy review [...]

360-365 combat

Posted by Grant Barrett on January 24, 2009 · Add Comment

360-365 combat n.— «Soldiers call the war “360-365 Combat” meaning that not only infantry, but all soldiers, are constantly under combat conditions while deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. This produces enormous stress.» —“Wounds of war continue” by Gerald Benson Coloradoan (Fort Collins, Colorado) Jan. 13, 2009. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)

paper boarding

Posted by Grant Barrett on August 4, 2008 · Add Comment

paper boarding n.— «Under the current policy, after 48 months of service E-4s serving in military specialties with shortages are automatically placed on a promotions list. Although a soldier’s name can be removed by his or her commander, each month that soldier’s name is placed back on the list. This was termed “automatic list integration” by [...]

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Belligerent Doesn’t Mean Drunk

snorage

reset button

AFPAK

360-365 combat