F - N
F
FANTABULOUS, adj. beyond fabulous. [blend of fantastic and
fabulous]
Context and source: "It's fantabulous!" (Conversaton with
classmate Amir Brown)
adj. Excellent, superlative, both fabulous and fantastic. [blend of
fantastic and fabulous]
Context and source: "This fantabulous four-poster bed can be
yours..." (Television advert)
F.I.N.E, adj. acronym (F*cked up, Insecure, Neurotic, and
Emotional). Usually derogatory;
indicated by tone of voice.
Context: "We all know he's F.I.N.E, just like those freaks he
hangs out with."
FLAGGIN', v. Slang. Flashing or giving gang signs. [derived from
flag - to flash. ]
Context and source: Don't go flaggin' in the wrong 'hood or you
gonna end up dead.
FLAME, v. A personal attack within a post on Usenet. [metaphorical
extension of flame]
Context and source: "Please don't flame me if you disagree with
this." (Usenet article)
FLOW, v. Slang. Rapping. [from the observation that rapping usually
contains long strings of text without many pauses]
Context and source: "Flow on the mike." (Conversation)
411, n. Information or informative details, usually about a planned
event or activity. Also 4-1-1. [ One usually dials 4-1-1 on the
telephone to reach an operator in order to inquire about some piece of
information one is searching for.]
Context and source: "Here's the 411 on the crabbing trip."
(heard in conversation)
FRO-YO, n. A frosty, creamy dessert; frozen yogurt. [clipping of
frozen yogurt]
Context and source: "Chocolate fro-yo is my favorite
dessert!" (Conversation)
FUNKINETICS, n. a very energetic form of step aerobics that mixes
exercise and soul music. [Blend of funk and kinetics (motion).]
Context and source: If you like soul music and aerobics, you'll like
funkinetics. (KPRC Houston 10pm news)
FUNNY, n. A joke; a humorous comment or remark, sometimes
unintentionally humorous. [zero-derivation of adj. funny]
Context and source: "Did I make a funny?" (Conversation)
FURTHER-FETCHED, adj. Beyond far-fetched [Compound further and
fetched]
Context and Source: "That's even worse. That's
further-fetched." (Lecture)
G
GARDEN BURGER, n. A hamburger made with a non-meat, vegetarian
patty instead of beef, served by Rice University Food Service. Also
gardenburger.
Context and source: "The garden burger is a healthy alternative
to a hamburger." (Conversation)
"GARDEN TOOL" MAMA, n. Slang. a prostitute. ["Garden
tool" is a euphemism of the vulgar slang ho, which is a
derivative (euphemistic respelling) of 'whore'.]
Context and Source: She is nothing but a "garden tool" mama.
(Conversation)
GET FUNGED, Epithet for when someone bungles an important task ( in
honor of criminalist Dennis Fung). [Lingo used by journalists covering
the O.J. Simpson Civil Trial. Found in Newsweek]
GINORMOUS- adj. extremely large [blend of gigantic and enormous]
Context and source: "Oh my! It is not gigantic. It is
ginormous!" (Conversation)
GLOBOBOSS, n. A cosmopolitan executive that has the ability to
perform well across the globe.
Context and Source: "Wanted a globoboss who's at home anywhere
and sings the same tune- profits- everywhere." (Newsweek 12/2/96)
H
HANZOUND TM, n. The sound system at Hanszen College, Rice
University. adj. The presentation of a production using the Hanszen
sound system. [combination of "Hanszen" College and
"sound". The capitalized "Z" serves to separate
the two constituent parts of the word. Also, only "-en" was
clipped off of "Hanszen". Also, "s" and
"z" are similar in sound (differ only in voicing) which
allows for the particular type of blending and clipping in this new
word.]
Context and source: "The Hanszen Movies Committee presents A
Christmas Story in HansZound TM." (from a flyer posted at Hanszen
College)
HOT-SEATING, v. To use the same boat but switch out rowers for
consecutive races, as in races that occur immediately after another.
[Rowers' jargon]
Context and source: "We're hot-seating the next race." (
Conversation)
I
IMHO, In My Humble Opinion [Acronym used on the Internet]
INTERQUEL, n. A television production that dramatizes a story lying
temporally between the story in the original production and that of
its sequel. [Analogical formation from model word sequel, first
extension prequel via recutting to form new morpheme quel;
then prefixed with inter- 'between']
Context and source: "Having written and filmed a
"Lonesome Dove" sequel and prequel, come about 1997 Mr.
McMurtry plans to finish an interquel "Comanche
Moon," about his heroes' prime adulthood." (New York Times
5/12/96)
ITO'D, v. To get hit on the head, especially with a TV crew's boom
microphone. [Lingo used by journalists covering the O.J. Simpson Civil
Trial. Found in Newsweek]
J
JAPANIMATION, n. A type of cartoon or animation originating in
Japan carrying robotic and futuristic themes.
Also refers to the style of animation. The characters have a
distinctive type of appearance, usually incorporating a lock of hair
hanging in front of an eye, and nudity.
Also known as anime. [Blend of Japan and animation].
JONES, n. Slang. An intense desire.
Context and source: "Geez, you really got the jones for
her." (Conversation)
JORDANESQUE, adj. reminiscent of Michael Jordan. [coined by NBC
Sports commentator Marv Albert. The -esque ending means 'like', as
found on words like Romanesque and statuesque.]
Context and source: "He made a jordanesque move under the
basket." (Conversation)
K
K-MART EXPRESS, n. Vulgar. Nicely put, a cheap tart. [derived from
the notion that K-Mart sells cheap goods, and express meaning quick.]
Context and source: "All his girlfriends is K-Mart Express.
" (Interview on the Ricki Lake Show)
KRUNK, adj. Slang. Awesome. syn. tight, cool. [? blend of funk and
(k)ool; African American Vernacular English]
Context and source: That was a krunk song. (Conversation)
L
LATE PLATE, n. Dinner/meal eaten after the regular (family-style)
dinner is served (Rice University).
Context and source: "Late plate doesn't start until 6:15."
(Conversation)
LOC, n. Slang. gangster, as in a member of street gang. [derived
from the Spanish word loco meaning "crazy."]
Context and source: "Don't mess with Steve, he's a
loc." (Conversation explaining gang terminology)
LOCS, n. Slang. dark sunglasses.
Context and source: "¿Donde está mis locs? [Where are my sun
glasses?]" (Conversation explaining gang terminology)
LOSINGEST, adj. In last place, worst off, lagging behind the rest.
["losing"+ superlative]
Context and source: "CBS is being asked to pay producers more for
its series because, as the losingest network, CBS cancels more of
them." (Wall Street Journal 09 Feb. 1989)
M
MACINTRASH, n. A Macintosh computer. Derogatory reference. [blend
of Macintosh and trash ].
Context and source: "I hate doing work on these d***
Macintrashes!" (Conversation)
MALLRATS, n. Collective term used for pre-teens and teenagers for
whom it is commonplace to spend large amount of time socializing and
wandering through urban shopping malls [compound formed from roots
mall and rat].
Context and source: "I really don't want my sister running around
with that gang of mallrats." (Conversation)
MCJOB, n. A job in a service related field with low pay, low
prestige and little opportunity for advancement [analogous word formed
from prefix Mc- and job ].
Context and source: "...a message that I suppose irked Dag, who
was bored and cranky after eight hours of working his McJob."
(Generation X, pg. 5)
MEDIA LEAKS CENTER, n. The row of Porta Potties (portable public
toilets) outside the courthouse. [Lingo used by journalists covering
the O.J. Simpson Civil Trial. Found in Newsweek]
MEANDERTHAL, n. An annoying individual moving slowly and aimlessly
in front of another individual who is in a bit of a hurry [blend
formed from meander and neanderthal ].
Context and source: "As much as he tried, Ben could do nothing to
get around the meanderthal on the narrow sidewalk." (Internet)
MOTO, n. Energy for action toward a goal; motivation. [clipping of
"motivation"]
Context and source: "I need some moto to go workout at the gym
today."(Conversation)
N
NETIZEN, n. A person who spends an excessive amount of time on the
Internet. [blend of Internet and citizen].
Context and Source "...investors and Netizens alike were left
wondering what went wrong. ( Newsweek).
NOAH'S ARKING, v.pres.part. The state of wearing pants in which the
length is hilariously short (in other words, it is more than a couple
of inches above the ankle.) [Metonymic coinage. Noah's Ark refers to
the great biblical flood, when the world was covered by "high
water". "Noah's Arking." has replaced the earlier term flooding.
A related term for the too-short pants themselves was high water
pants.]
Context and source: His pants are too short. He is "Noah's
Arking."
O - Z
