auslaut

[ ous-lout ]

noun

, Linguistics.

, plural aus·lau·te [ous, -lou-t, uh], aus·lauts.

1. final position in a word, especially as a conditioning environment in sound change.
2. a sound in this position.

Word History and Origins

Origin of auslaut¹

1880–85; < German, equivalent to aus- out- + Laut sound, as noun derivative of auslauten to end (with a given sound)

Example Sentences

In 2019, an eight-way tie included such mind-bending winning words as 'erysipelas,' a skin infection; 'auslaut,' the final sound in a word or syllable; 'palama,' webbing on the feet of aquatic birds; 'pendeloque,' a pear-shaped gemstone or glass pendant; 'odylic,' related to a hypothetical life force; 'cernuous,' drooping, 'bougainvillea,' a climbing plant; and 'aiguillette,' the braided ornament on military uniforms.

From Reuters

“Champion spellers, we are now in uncharted territory,” said the pronouncer as “auslaut” was called out in overtime.

From Los Angeles Times

The final eight contestants lasted 20 rounds and, in the end, plowed through words such as “pendeloque,” “auslaut” and “bougainvillea.”

From Washington Post

Among the words that earned spellers a share of the title: "auslaut," ''palama," ''cernuous" and "odylic."

From Fox News

After breezing through the 18th and 19th rounds without so much as a scare, each spelled their title-clinching word without any apparent nerves: Gandhasri with auslaut, Howard with erysipelas, Sundar with bougainvillea, Padhy with aiguillette, Sukhatankar with pendeloque, Kodali with palama, Serrao with cernuous, then finally Raja with odylic to complete the historic sweep at 12.06am local time.

From The Guardian