skimble-scamble | Word of the Day

March 26, 2019 skimble-scamble [skim-buhl-skam-buhl; skim-uhl-skam-uhl] adjective 1. rambling; confused; nonsensical: a skimble-scamble explanation. video We Asked: Why Do Some People Gesticulate So Much? grammar Why We Need The Serial Comma: 10 Hilarious Real-World Examples WORD OF THE DAY skimble-scamble continued... QUOTES He complained bitterly of his reporters, saying that the skimblescamble stuff which they published would "make posterity think ill of his understanding, and that of his brethren on the bench." -- John Campbell, The Lives of the Chief Justices of England,  Vol. III, 1873 ORIGIN The rare adjective skimble-scamble shows the same, common vowel alteration in a reduplicated word as in mish-mash or pitter-patter. The reduplicated word is the verb scamble, of unknown etymology, and now obsolete or dialectal, meaning "to struggle or scramble with others for food or money tossed to a crowd," now replaced by scramble. The lexicographer Samuel Johnson was not keen on skimble-scamble, calling it a "cant word," one of his favorite terms of abuse. Skimble-scamble entered English at the end of the 16th century. MORE FOR YOU 1 Is "Crude" The Right Word To Use To Describe Someone's Language? Can Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's word choice be considered crude ... or was there a better word choice? 2 How Does Adding The Word "Possible" Change News What is a possible hate crime? A possible sexual assault? A possible terrorist attack? 3 Is It Time For All Couples To Use The Term "Partner"? There are a lot of different words one could use to describe the person with whom they're in a romantic relationship. But, the one word that is most quickly redefining the way we talk about relationships is partner. 4 "Cinnamon Words": Words Famous Authors Can't Get Enough Of Guitarists have signature riffs, rapper their ad-libs, pop stars their dance moves. And authors? Well, they have words. And their favorites are called "cinnamon words." 5 Adrenalize Your Intellect With This Week's Quiz Feeling shirty? Sashay through this week's soothing Word of the Day Quiz. | January 21 – 27, 2019 © 2018 Dictionary.com, LLC. ABOUT CONTACT You are subscribed to the Word of the Day Dictionary.com, LLC. 555 12th Street Suite 500 Oakland CA 94607 Terms & Privacy