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Date: Wed, 6 Mar 2002 21:01:19 -0800 (PST)
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Subject: A.Word.A.Day--mooncalf
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mooncalf (MOON-kaf) noun

   1. A daydreamer or absent-minded person.

   2. A fool or simpleton.

   3. A congenitally deformed person.

[From the earlier belief that a misshapen birth was a result of effects
of the moon.]

   "Troughton, who has become a justly popular leading actor over the past
   few RSC seasons, is both monster and mooncalf."
   Michael Coveney, Theatre: Psycho III, The Madness of King Richard,
   The Guardian (London), Sep 10, 1995.

This week's theme: words to describe people.

Today's AWAD is sponsored by NannyTax, Inc., offering on-line tax preparation
and payroll tax compliance services to employers of domestic help. Please
visit http://www.nannytax.com

............................................................................
Of all nature's gifts to the human race, what is sweeter to a man than his
children? -Marcus Tullius Cicero, statesman, orator, writer (106-43 BCE)

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Pronunciation:
http://wordsmith.org/words/mooncalf.wav
http://wordsmith.org/words/mooncalf.ram