Message-ID: <21980047.1075858927505.JavaMail.evans@thyme> Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2001 02:11:00 -0700 (PDT) From: wsmith@wordsmith.org To: linguaphile@wordsmith.org Subject: A.Word.A.Day--crossbuck Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-From: Wordsmith X-To: linguaphile X-cc: X-bcc: X-Folder: \SSCOTT5 (Non-Privileged)\Scott, Susan M.\Wordsmith X-Origin: Scott-S X-FileName: SSCOTT5 (Non-Privileged).pst crossbuck (KROS-buk) noun An X-shaped warning sign at a highway-railroad crossing. [From cross- + buck, from sawbuck.] "The federal investigation could result in an upgrade of warning equipment at the crossing, which is marked only by stop signs and X-shaped railroad crossbuck signs." Truck Driver is Charged in Amtrak Train Collision, The Houston Chronicle, Jul 13, 1999. As a parent of a three-year old daughter, I'm constantly besieged with questions. While on an after-dinner walk, the enquiry comes up, "Where's the sun gone?" "He's sleeping." "Why?" "Because his mommy put him to bed." "Why?" "Because he has to go to pre-school tomorrow." "Why?" "Because he likes playing with his friends and teachers." "Why?" ... A few more whys later, I'm ready to confess ignorance. Such a small question -- Why? -- yet so hard to answer. Fortunately, the whats are easier to tackle. As it happens, the English language has a word for almost everything around: from the ball on the top of a flagpole (truck), to the spot on a die or a domino (pip), to the little circle that comes out of a punched paper (we all know it by now). This week we'll look at some more words that answer, "What is this called?" -Anu P.S. Online journalism, anyone? Join us for a chat on this topic with Sreenath Sreenivasan, a professor at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. It runs today 6-7 PM EDT U.S. (GMT -4). For more details and to join the chat, visit http://wordsmith.org/chat/sree.html P.P.S. Perhaps I was being oscitant last week, but the word oscitant is an adjective, not a noun. ............................................................................ He is the best physician who is the most ingenious inspirer of hope. -Samuel Taylor Coleridge, poet, critic, and philosopher (1772-1834) Subscribe: http://wordsmith.org/awad/subscribe.html Unsubscribe: http://wordsmith.org/awad/unsubscribe.html Change address: http://wordsmith.org/awad/address-change.html Gift subscription: http://wordsmith.org/awad/gift.html Pronunciation: http://wordsmith.org/words/crossbuck.wav http://wordsmith.org/words/crossbuck.ram