A-Z Database
South African informal for expert, derives from the Nguni umfundisi for teacher. Although the word may be centuries old in Nguni, it has only been par...
Bumping one’s elbow is known as hitting one’s funny bone because of the peculiar, tingling sensation that sometimes occurs. This sensation is not caus...
Originally, American slang for a mental institution; dates from the late 1950s but is now generally encountered throughout the English-speaking world.
American slang for female genitalia and/or cunnilingus, dates from the early 1960s.
Originally, from the late 19th century, British military slang for a Sudanese warrior, from the Sudanese method of dressing hair. Later, it became gen...
Commonly used acronym for ‘for your information’ which according to the OED derives from the language of memoranda c. 1941.