Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Words I'm Making Up (First in an occasional cleverly named series on words that are not but should be)

curcludgeon


It's when you get bludgeoned by a curmudgeon. I'm sure any grammarphile with grammarphobe tendencies will agree we could use such a word.

I realize curbludgeon would be a more natural formation, but 1. it's too similar to bludgeon and 2. it's just not as much fun. So don't curcludgeon me about that.

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4 comments:

  1. LinneeMarch 17, 2009 at 2:59 PM

    You're way ahead of my friend who made up the word "drunch" for late lunch/early dinner. It makes me cringe every time she uses it, which is way too often.

    Curcludgeon is kind of cute (well as cute as a word meaning bludgeon can be).

    So, next time she says "drunch" I shall curcludgeon her. I'm an official curbludgeoner!

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  2. June CasagrandeMarch 17, 2009 at 3:39 PM

    An interviewer once asked me: "Have you ever coined a term? If so, what was it?"

    I answered: Over the years, I have indeed introduced new and original words. Here's how successful I was: Not even I remember what they were.

    I 'spose "curcludgeon" is on a fast track to the dustbin of memory. Let's hope "drunch" ends up there, too.

    : )

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  3. JoelMarch 18, 2009 at 10:05 AM

    Oh God, don't hate me. I think I might be falling in love with "drunch." The awkwardness is part of the charm. And, yeah, it helps that I'm a big fan of the whole eating thing. What, doesn't everyone eat second breakfast and elevensies?

    And I confess to being a bit fond of "curbludgeon" but think it is doomed because it just sounds like a simple mashup, the bludgeoning of curs.

    "Curcludgeon" might, therefore, have a chance, June. What's beautiful is that it's just the kind of word that would inspire the kind of activity it describes, creating a violent self-perpetuation. Somehow, in the sick order of things, that would seem to argue for its survival. Sort of. Maybe just in my imagination. "Please stop curcludgeoning me." [Curcludgeoning intensifies at the flagrant provocation.] "Ouch! Please stop curcludgeoning me." etc.

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  4. June CasagrandeMarch 18, 2009 at 10:30 AM

    You're allowed to like "drunch." You're wrong, but you're allowed. : )

    I'm not one to talk. I like Outback Steakhouse and "America's Funniest Home Videos." (I can't BELIEVE I'm admitting that -- either one. Secret shames on parade. But there you have it.)

    As for curcludgeon: I'm not holding my breath for it to be the next "foshizzle" or "peeps." (But a girl can dream, can't she?)

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