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Why Dictionary.com chose hugger-mugger
More about hugger-mugger
- First recorded in 1520–30.
- An earlier form was hucker-mucker, a rhyming compound based on mucker.
- Mucker comes from the Middle English word mokeren, “to hoard.”
- Hugger-mugger can be a noun and verb, too.
EXAMPLES OF HUGGER-MUGGER
- The spy communicated with her handler in a hugger-mugger manner to avoid detection.
- The meeting was very hugger-mugger, with everyone whispering and looking over their shoulders.
umlaut
noun
a mark placed over a vowel to indicate a vowel sound different from that of the letter without it, especially as so used in German.
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Why Dictionary.com chose umlaut
More about umlaut
- First recorded around 1835–45.
- Comes from German, equivalent to um-, “about, around” and Laut, “sound.”
EXAMPLES OF UMLAUT
- When learning to spell in German, it’s important to pay attention to the umlauts placed on vowels.
- The word über in German contains an umlaut over the letter u.
Neufchâtel
noun
a soft, white cheese similar to cream cheese, made from whole or partly skimmed milk in Neufchâtel, a town in N France.
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Why Dictionary.com chose Neufchâtel
More about Neufchâtel
- First recorded in 1860–65.
- Comes from French, from the name of a town in Northern France where this type of cheese is made.
EXAMPLES OF NEUFCHÂTEL
- She spread Neufchâtel on a baguette for a simple and delicious snack.
- Neufchâtel is a popular choice for cheese boards due to its mild flavor.
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