- Today's Word
Snickersnee
[SNIK-er-snee]
Definition
- (noun) A large, sharp knife or a sword, often associated with combat or confrontation. The term is typically used in a humorous or lighthearted context to describe a dramatic or exaggerated confrontation or fight.
Example
In a playful reenactment of a pirate battle, the children brandished their plastic snickersnees, engaging in a spirited duel across the backyard.
Fun Fact
The origin of “snickersnee” can be traced back to the 17th century, where it was likely derived from the Dutch word “snikken,” meaning to cut or slice, and “snee,” meaning a cut or wound. The term was popularized in English literature by authors such as William Makepeace Thackeray and Charles Dickens, who used it to add a touch of whimsy or humor to descriptions of confrontations or fights. Interestingly, “snickersnee” is also sometimes used as a verb, meaning to engage in a fight or confrontation using knives or swords. While the term has largely fallen out of common usage, it remains a favorite among wordsmiths and language enthusiasts who appreciate its playful and evocative nature.
(noun) A person who believes that the pursuit of pleasure and sensory enjoyment is the highest good and chief aim of life
A self-proclaimed hedonist, she planned her entire sabbatical around exceptional food, warm weather, and long afternoons with nothing to do.
Hedonist derives from the Greek hedone, meaning “pleasure” or “delight,” from hedys (“sweet”). The philosophical school of Hedonism was formally developed in ancient Greece — most notably by Epicurus, who argued that pleasure, properly understood, was the foundation of a good life. The word entered English in the 19th century as both a philosophical term and a descriptor for those who live purely for sensory gratification.