Dictionary Day October 16th

Calling all wordsmiths!
October 16 is Dictionary Day, named in honor of the birthday of that famous American wordsmith, Noah Webster.

• What do the letters ZIP in the word Zip Code stand for?


• What is a shaddock?


• What does the word somnambulate mean?
  

Answers:
The letters ZIP in the word Zip Code stand for "Zone Improvement Plan."
A shaddock is tropical tree that grows in southeastern Asia. The shaddock is related to the grapefruit.
Somnambulate means "to sleepwalk."

A great website to check out word games. A sample of the questions on Fake Out.
http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr096.shtml

Does the word esparto mean:

• the red cloth bullfighters use in bullfighting,


• a name of an animal in a popular video game,


• a tough, wiry grass used in making paper,


• French delicacy, or


• the Spanish word for cheerleader?
  If you answered "a tough, wiry grass used in making paper," you were right!

Does the word jitney mean:

• a burnt hamburger,


• a branch that sticks out of the water,


• a little pony,


• a small bus, or


• a plant with small yellow flowers?
  
  "A small bus" is the correct answer!
  Where can your students find the answers to those and other baffling word questions? Check the dictionary!