Vowel movements challenge

Discussion in 'Linguistics' started by DaveC426913, Oct 29, 2018.

  1. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

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    I'm not sure if this is a stumper, or if I'm the last one to know this.

    There is a(t least one) English word that contains no vowels - including y.

    It's a real word, it's not
    • obscure, like cwm
    • a slur, like hmm
    • an onomatopoeia, like psst,
    • an acronym like TV,
    • a short form like Dr.
    • punctuated, like Ms.
    No Googling!
     
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  3. Beer w/Straw Transcendental Ignorance! Valued Senior Member

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  5. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

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    It's also not just a letter.

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  7. geordief Valued Senior Member

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    Can we rule out words imported from other languages?
     
  8. sideshowbob Sorry, wrong number. Valued Senior Member

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    If it's a mathematical term, that would not strictly be an "English" word, would it?
     
  9. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

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    Very insightful question.

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    But you'd require a broad definition of 'mathematical'.

    Is the word 'first' a mathematical term? It's used in quite common language.
     
  10. sideshowbob Sorry, wrong number. Valued Senior Member

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    Admittedly, the word I'm thinking of is in fairly common usage. (And I did cheat a bit.)
     
  11. exchemist Valued Senior Member

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    Must admit I can't think of any, unless you include Welsh words co-opted into English, like cwm.
     
  12. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

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    SSB gave a big hint in #5, which I reinforced with another hint in #6.
     
  13. geordief Valued Senior Member

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    I was onto that but it hasn't helped

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  14. geordief Valued Senior Member

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    Any more clues ....or maybe the answer .It is coming up to 4 days now since anyone had a go.
     
  15. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

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    nth

    As in, "When I came home with lipstick on my collar, she grilled me to the nth degree."

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  16. geordief Valued Senior Member

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    Would make a nice Christian name for a mathematical couple's new daughter.(a bit like Elspeth)
     
  17. sculptor Valued Senior Member

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    ....
     
    Last edited: Nov 4, 2018
  18. geordief Valued Senior Member

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    We could have a whole family of similar words ...pth ,qth rth etc etc .

    They could also be used as esoteric first names for children in rockstar/ mathematical families such as Brian May and Brian Cox.
     
  19. Beer w/Straw Transcendental Ignorance! Valued Senior Member

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  20. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

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    In theory, sure. But it was important to the teaser that it be a not-obscure word.

    Shoot! I should have added 'no proper names'.
     
  21. sideshowbob Sorry, wrong number. Valued Senior Member

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    Or for families with a lot of children. My mother had four brothers and seven sisters. The next one could have been called Nth.
     
  22. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

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    Broom Hilda Cartoon from 80's:

    Meet Primo, the first of our carefully planned family of two.
    Meet Finale, the last of our carefully planned family of two.

    Oh, and who is this adorable little one?


    Oh. That's Oops.
     
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  23. origin Heading towards oblivion Valued Senior Member

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    I thought a vowel movement was when you were talking shit.
     
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