Here’s a new type of interesting word for this blog – a word that is autological. Autological words are members of or have features of the category they describe. They have or represent the property they denote.
Sesquipedalian means ‘having many syllables’. It can also be used to describe something as given to using long words or being long-winded.
Its origin is mid 17th century, from the Latin sesquipedalis meaning ‘a foot and a half long’.
No, but you might be on tenterhooks.
If you are on tenterhooks, you are in a state of suspense or agitation because of uncertainty about an event in the future.
Tenterhooks were hooks that held cloth firmly in place on tenters. Tenters were wooden frames used to stretch cloth after it had been milled. They were used so that cloth dried evenly and didn’t shrink.
The first usage of tenterhooks in the sense of suspense can be found in Tobias Smollett’s novel The Adventures of Roderick Random, published in 1748: “I made no reply, but left him upon the tenter-hooks of impatient uncertainty.”
Warn: 
Worn:
This term will probably be familiar to basketball fans.
The word alley-oop was first used in the early 20th century, and it is suggested that it originates from the French allez! (meaning ‘go on’ said in an encouraging way) and an alteration of up.
An alley-oop or alley-oop pass is a high pass caught above the basket by a leaping player who tries to dunk the ball before landing.
Alley-oop can also be used as an exclamation. It encourages or draws attention to the performance of a physical feat (often acrobatic).
There is a song by the Hollywood Argyles titled Alley Oop; it was inspired by a comic strip of the same name. I prefer the version that the Beach Boys released. Here it is:
You’re welcome.
Presume and assume can both mean ‘suppose’ and are often used as if they are interchangeable. However, there is a difference:
Usage of assume that is more common than presume that, so assume may feel more natural to use in conversation.
Both assume and presume can also mean ‘to take on oneself’. The usages are usually as follows:
Bizarre: odd, strange or unusual (usually in an interesting or amusing way).
Bazaar: a sale (especially in aid of a charity) or a market area (often a street of small stalls).
Fiddle-faddle is an old-fashioned word; its origin is late 16th century, and it is a reduplication of fiddle.
It means trivial matters or nonsense. In this sense, it can be used as a noun or an exclamation/interjection.
It can also be used as a verb meaning to bother over trifles*, fuss or waste time. You can be a fiddle-faddler.
I understand that Fiddle Faddle is an American popcorn product, which is interesting. It is also the name of a musical composition by Leroy Anderson – I’ve listened to it; it’s quite nice. If you use Spotify, here it is:
*Not the desserts, but something of little value or importance.
It’s World Maritime Day. Here are some nautical terms you might find interesting:
You can find more information on World Maritime Day here.
These two are homophones, and we all know what that means.
Fourth: number four in a sequence. Sometimes a fourth is used to mean a quarter (usually North American usage). There are also some applications in regards to musical notes.
Forth: onward/forward in time or place, or out from a starting point and forward/into view.
Currant
Current
* Only acceptable in foodstuffs if it has first been soaked in copious amounts of brandy, rum or similar (as far as I am concerned).
Hannah McCall 