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Nov 23, 2025
This week’s themeEponyms This week’s words Gallio Babbittry chauvinist Dantean Plimsoll line How popular are they? Relative usage over time AWADmail archives Index Next week’s theme Nouning the verb, verbing the noun 
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AWADmail Issue 1221A Compendium of Feedback on the Words in A.Word.A.Day and Other Tidbits about Words and LanguageSponsor’s Message: “Scrabble on steroids, with a thieving twist.” One Up! -- where stealing is the name of the game. “My daily dose of dopamine.” A wicked smart anytime gift. Game on! From: Marc Davidson (flueln hotmail.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--Gallio Thanks. Never understood this properly until now: “Only Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Ingleby, and Mr. Bredon, sardonic Gallios, held themselves apart, caring little, but fomenting the trouble for their own amusement.” (Dorothy L. Sayers in Murder Must Advertise) Marc Davidson, Ormond, Florida From: Susan Jones (susandjones27 me.com) Subject: Babbitt I am a Babbitt descendant, and there were Georges in our family. Five Babbitt brothers went from Cincinnati, OH, to Flagstaff, AZ, in the 1880s and ‘90s and pretty much established that city. One of the AZ Babbitts became governor. Susan Jones, Canton, Connecticut From: John Dozier (jedi1844 icloud.com) Subject: Babbittry It’s a small world. I went to grad school with Captain George Babbitt, later to become the USAF General Babbitt. It was 1969-1970. He was a good man. His thesis team and mine tied for the top honors as the best theses. John Dozier, El Dorado Hills, California From: James Eng (jameseng hotmail.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--chauvinist If we were able to look into Nicolas Chauvin’s life, would we find someone deficient in diverse interests and hobbies? A one-dimensional person with only his exploits militaires to keep his mind company? Was Chauvin like a pro athlete who only knows the game and then is lost when his time on the field has ended? An accountant who only does accounting? A fitness youtuber who spends all their time obsessing over their physical appearance? A 24-7 churchgoer? In the context of farming, monoculture crop planting is not a sustainable way to grow food - nor is it a wise principle to apply to one’s mental wellbeing. On the contrary, developing diverse interests is the vaccine that assists a person in living a satisfying and beneficent life. James Eng, Cypress, Texas From: Kyle Renell (kylerenell gmail.com) Subject: Chauvinist Reading the background for this word, I immediately thought of Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis Police Officer responsible for the murder of George Floyd in 2020. I was in law enforcement for 20 years and, as a female, worked with countless chauvinistic dudes, many of whom made my work life extremely unpleasant. During the aftermath of the Floyd murder, reading about Derek Chauvin, I am shocked I never thought about the root word for chauvinism. Derek is the poster child for the word. Kyle Renell, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Email of the Week -- Brought to you buy One Up! -- Perfectly horrible family fun.
From: Indee Brooke (ibrooke lacera.net) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--chauvinist Regarding “My country, right or wrong.” The full quotation is not at all what so-called patriots would espouse, but a true statement of what it means to care about your country and to want to preserve its essential values. Carl Schurz expanded a statement by Stephen Decatur to be: “My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right.” Whatever our politics, if we engage in a dialogue to make our country the best it should be by following the careful precepts of our founders, who attempted to maximize personal freedoms while reining in the abuses of heedless self-interest. Then the USA will be okay in its pursuit of “liberty and justice for all”. Wikiquote has an interesting entry on this phrase. Indee Brooke, Sunland, California From: David Santangelo (dcsantangelo2005 comcast.net) Subject: Dantean When I was in college, I took a semester-long class on The Divine Comedy. What I found so striking while reading the entirety of the epic poem was that Inferno and Purgatorio were far more interesting than Paradiso. The first two parts were full of sinners with compelling stories, while the final part was filled with those who were so perfect as to reach Heaven, and it was so boring! Ironic, considering the soul’s ultimate goal was to reach Paradise. David Santangelo, Stevens Point, Wisconsin From: Steve Allen (stevierayallen hotmail.com) Subject: Dantean “No, my dear sir, you are still in hell, only you’ve ascended to its highest and best circle -- the first. You were asking what a sharashka is. You could say it was invented by Dante. He was at his wits’ end as to where to put the ancient sages. It was his Christian duty to consign those heathens to hell. But a Renaissance conscience couldn’t reconcile itself to lumping those luminaries in with the rest of the sinners and condemning them to physical torment. So Dante imagined a special place for them in hell.” -Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (In the First Circle) Steve Allen, California From: Lars Erup (lerup videotron.ca) Subject: Plimsoll line In Danish, Mr. Plimsoll’s name has become associated with the exact thing his good work sought to eliminate: The word plimsoller is used to describe a decrepit or unseaworthy ship. Lars Erup, Saint Lazare, Canada From: Jay Florey (JayFlorey57 comcast.net) Subject: Plimsoll line Readers may wonder why there are so many different marks. It’s because the density of water changes with both temperature and salinity. Thus tropical fresh water has the lowest density and winter North Atlantic seawater has the highest. So a ship loaded to the tropical fresh water mark at an inland port will rise once it enters the open ocean, sea water being denser. Ships’ hulls are also painted with draft marks which indicate how much of the hull is below the water line. For ships using feet, the numbers are 6 inches high, and there are 6 inches between the top of one number and the bottom of the next one. Water at the bottom of the number means the exact foot. Ships marked in meters typically have large numbers at the meter point, and either smaller numbers or lines every two-tenths of meter in between. Again, the bottom of the number or line marks the exact depth. Jay Florey, Olympia, Washington From: Carol McCormick (carolmccormick rocketmail.com) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--Plimsoll line When my husband took our family of three to Scotland for two six-month sabbaticals in the 1990s, we enrolled our young son (aged 5 for one visit and 9 for the second) in the local primary school. Purchasing plimsolls to wear during indoor sports was part of the school kit required. Scotland was a shipbuilding powerhouse during the 18th to mid-20th centuries, so labeling them plimsolls makes more sense to me now -- in the 21st century. Carol McCormick, Sacramento, California From: Mark Taratoot (taratoot peak.org) Subject: Re: A.Word.A.Day--Plimsoll line There is also a Plimsoll line on a proper pint glass. It shows where the liquid level of beer should be, and there should be room on top for a nice head of foam. It’s more likely found on an Imperial pint than on an American pint glass. Almost all the taverns I have been to use “American pint glasses” which were designed more for iced tea than beer. The shape doesn’t concentrate aroma, and they hold one pint to the very rim. They still call it a pint, although if it’s poured right with a head of foam, it’s at most 14 ounces. Some even go as far as using “cheater” pints that don’t even hold 16 ounces when full. Some taprooms use better shaped glassware that has a Plimsoll line to pour American pints. I appreciate them. Mark Taratoot, Corvallis, Oregon From: Mardy Grothe (drmardy drmardy.com) Subject Voltaire quotation
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: To learn who rules over you, simply find out whom you are not allowed to criticize. -Voltaire, philosopher (21 Nov 1694-1778) Voltaire never wrote or said anything like it. It is also a bitter irony that the original author of the underlying sentiment is a person Voltaire would have despised. The closest original form of the idea came from Kevin Alfred Strom, an American neo-Nazi and white supremacist, who said in a 1993 radio broadcast: “To determine the true rulers of any society, all you must do is ask yourself this question: Who is it that I am not permitted to criticize?” For more quotations on the subject of criticism, go here. Mardy Grothe, Southern Pines, North Carolina  
Subject: chauvinist and Dantean The word chauvinist took me back to the year 1973 and the much-ballyhooed Battle of the Sexes tennis match at the Houston Astrodome, pitting then-US No. 1 women’s tennis player, Billie Jean King, against retired pro Bobby Riggs. Riggs was so cocksure that he could soundly beat King, touting the (alleged) inherent superiority of men over women. Pre-match, Riggs even admitted that he was a “male chauvinist pig”. Bottomline, Billie Jean cleaned his clock. 
Alex McCrae, Van Nuys, California Anagrams
Make your own anagrams and animations. Limericks Gallio In his office, some fellow passed out. Like a Gallio, Trump stood about. His look seemed to say “I hate this delay -- This guy’s spoiled my day, there’s no doubt.” -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) “As the star of these games,” grumbled Mario, “Why are riches not in the scenario? When you’re just a cartoon, Do you not get a boon? My creator’s some billionaire Gallio.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Don Juan was well known in the barrio As a heartless, deceitful lothario. So now he’s in hell Where someday he will gel With our number-one orange-haired Gallio. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Babbittry “My home is high-tech,” he avowed. “The stuff that I own makes me proud!” His Babbittry’s why This nouveau-riche guy Is eager to follow the crowd. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) I can’t stand this place, folks, must we stay? It seems to get worse every day! The Babbittry just Coats the town like a crust. I can’t wait until we get away! -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) “They say me am guilty of savagery,” Said Oog, “but they all into Babbittry. The moderns all think That their s___ doesn’t stink, But to me, that be one great big fallacy.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) chauvinist He’s convinced that his country’s the best, And its leaders have never transgressed. It’s his chauvinist thought: “When our history’s taught, Only positive things should be stressed.” -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) A chauvinist, Trump is hardcore. His treatment of women is poor. He cheats on his wives, And ruins girls’ lives. He is in Epstein’s files for sure. -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “We woodwinds are best,” said the oboist. The trombonist replied, “What a chauvinist! You guys are mere thorns In the side of us horns!” “You’re both wrong,” said the violin soloist. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Dantean Though I feel like we currently dwell In a Dantean circle of hell, The felon-at-large Whom we put in charge Keeps insisting that ev’rything’s swell. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Her boyfriend she thought she knew well, But his being a cad broke the spell. And since she was see’n Him acting Dantean, She said that he should go to hell! -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “If with me you’re not always agreein’, This country you’d better be fleein’,” Said Donald. How nice! I may take that advice As America turns more Dantean. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Plimsoll line I won’t overindulge in that wine, For I’ve got quite a low Plimsoll line. One glass will suffice, Or I’ll pay a price -- I can’t handle the fruit of the vine. -Marion Wolf, Bergenfield, New Jersey (marionewolf yahoo.com) Have you ever possessed Plimsoll shoes? I’m not really sure why they are news. A line they possess; Makes ‘em special, I guess All I know for sure: they come in twos! -Bindy Bitterman, Chicago, Illinois (bindy eurekaevanston.com) Is whatever their Donald does fine? In their view is there no Plimsoll line? As they swallow each lie, Even this line they buy: “Hand me over your money, it’s mine.” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Puns “When Caesar went to Gallio-bviously planned on coming back and becoming emperor,” lectured the historian. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “If we find the sunken gallio-n we’ll be rich!” said the treasure hunter. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) Learning the lingo aboard the huge yacht, Claire responded, “I’m going to the gallio I mean the kitchen.” -Joan Perrin, Port Jefferson Station, New York (perrinjoan aol.com) “I’ll take Flora for $40, Alex.” “And the answer is, ‘That’s the correct category for this extremely useful large African species.’” Bzzzt! “Is the bao-babitry?” -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “In zis TV chauvinist-om ever going to catch Jerry?” wondered the impatient German viewer. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “Brush your breath with Dantean!” said the ad. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) “OMG, after eating this ap-plimsoll-ine down. Can’t even keep my eyes open!” said Snow White. -Steve Benko, New York, New York (stevebenko1 gmail.com) A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
To seek understanding before taking action, yet to trust my instincts
when action is called for. Never to avoid danger from fear, never to seek
out danger for its own sake. Never to conform to fashion from fear of
eccentricity, never to be eccentric from fear of conformity. -Steven Brust,
novelist (b. 23 Nov 1955)
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