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Word of the day

olykoek

[ ol-i-kook ] [ ˈɒl ɪˌkʊk ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

doughnut.

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More about olykoek

Olykoek has its origins in the now-extinct New York dialect of Dutch. Dutch is related to English, therefore it’s no surprise that Dutch olie and koek resemble their English cognates oil and cake. Olykoek was first recorded in English at the turn of the 19th century.

EXAMPLE OF OLYKOEK USED IN A SENTENCE

The crowd of Knicks fans enjoyed olykoeks as the sun rose over the Hudson River.

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Word of the day

debouch

[ dih-boosh ] [ dɪˈbuʃ ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

verb

to come forth; emerge.

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More about debouch

Debouch is an adaptation of French déboucher, meaning both “to unclog, uncork” and “to emerge, result, drain.” The bouche element means “mouth” and comes from Latin bucca, which means “cheek, jaw.” Bucca eventually replaced Latin ōs, ōr- (as in oral and oration) as the word for “mouth.” Debouch was first recorded in English circa 1660.

EXAMPLE OF DEBOUCH USED IN A SENTENCE

Passengers in festive clothing debouched from the crowded subway on their way to the parade.

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Word of the day

enisle

[ en-ahyl ] [ ɛnˈaɪl ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

verb

to make an island of.

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More about enisle

Enisle comes from French. En- roughly means “to make happen, cause to be,” as in the Word of the Day enkindle, while isle is an older spelling of French île, “island,” from Latin īnsula. Isle and island are not related, but island (from Old English) gained its silent s by association with isle. Enisle was first recorded in English around 1610.

EXAMPLE OF ENISLE USED IN A SENTENCE

When the dam burst, the torrent of water filled the valley, enisling the highest points of land therein.

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