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A.Word.A.Day--seltzer

Pronunciation RealAudio

seltzer (SELT-suhr) noun

1. Naturally effervescent mineral water.

2. Artificially carbonated water.

[From German Selterser (literally, from Selters), after Selters, a village near Wiesbaden in Germany where such springs were discovered.]

"The Randolphs, who live in Towson, also made ginger ale with fresh ginger, seltzer and sugar water. `It may not have been the most nutritious [drink],' but, `just getting them involved with the whole process' was the most important part of the project, says Randolph, a registered dietitian at the Urban Medical Institute in Baltimore." Stephanie Shapiro, Food-smart, The Sun (Baltimore), Sep 19, 2001.

This week's theme: toponyms or words derived from place names.

X-Bonus

It is of interest to note that while some dolphins are reported to have learned English -- up to fifty words used in correct context -- no human being has been reported to have learned dolphinese. -Carl Sagan, astronomer and writer (1934-1996)

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