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w00t is 3rd Favorite Non-Dictionary Word

Posted by Zonk on from the not-a-fan-of-confuzzled dept.

Jay writes "The word has been getting out apparently. No longer just a word for gamers, 'woot' now appears as #3 in Merriam-Webster's What's Your Favorite Word (That's Not in the Dictionary)? contest. It was beaten out by ginormous and confuzzled."

4 of 422 comments (clear)

  1. When it gets corporate backing... by MacFury · · Score: 4, Interesting
    When it gets corporate backing, it will be in the dictionary.


    The proposal to create a "Name Change Task Force" originated with Peter Machno, manager of Seattle's sludge program, after protesters mobilized against his plan to spread sludge on local tree farms. "If I knocked on your door and said I've got this beneficial product called sludge, what are you going to say?" he asked. At Machno's suggestion, the Federation newsletter published a request for alternative names. Members sent in over 250 suggestions, including "all growth," "purenutri," "biolife," "bioslurp," "black gold," "geoslime," "sca-doo," "the end product," "humanure," "hu-doo," "organic residuals," "bioresidue," "urban biomass," "powergro," "organite," "recyclite," "nutri-cake" and "ROSE," short for "recycling of solids environmentally." [19] In June of 1991, the Name Change Task Force finally settled on "biosolids," which it defined as the "nutrient-rich, organic byproduct of the nation's wastewater treatment process." [20]

    The new name attracted sarcastic comment from the Doublespeak Quarterly Review, edited by Rutgers University professor William Lutz. "Does it still stink?" Lutz asked. He predicted that the new name "probably won't move into general usage. It's obviously coming from an engineering mentality. It does have one great virtue, though. You think of `biosolids' and your mind goes blank." [21]


    Toxic Sludge is good for you

    I am feeling bitter today

  2. A few favorites by miyako · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Just thought I'd list a few of my favorite non-words, in no particular order.
    • Frienemy
    • Asshat
    • Sexcapade
    • teh
    • borked
    • burninate
    • pwned
    • pathetisad
    • craptastic
    --
    Famous Last Words: "hmm...wikipedia says it's edible"
  3. How about... by Stormwatch · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...automagically?

    --
    Circumcision is child abuse.
  4. Woot; the acronym. by Agilo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The word "woot" (also; "w00t") has been said to be an acronym, not just a word, meaning:
    We Own the Other Team

    --
    - Agilo