Today's Words: Hugger-Mugger, Umlaut and Salmagundi

Hugger-Mugger

(huhg-er-muhg-er)

adjective

secret or clandestine.

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

(oom-lout)

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.

More about Umlaut

First recorded around 1835–45.

Comes from German, equivalent to um-, “about, around” and Laut, “sound.”

Examples of Umalut

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.

Salmagundi

(sal-muh-guhn-dee) noun

any mixture or miscellany.

More about Salmagundi

First recorded around 1665–75.

Comes from the Middle French word salmingondin.

Salmingondin is a compound based on salemine, “salted food” (from which we get salami) and condir, “to season” (from which we get condiment).

Examples of Salmagundi

Our family reunion turned into a lively salmagundi of stories, jokes, and memories shared around the bonfire.

Her jewellery box contained a colourful salmagundi of beads, gemstones, and trinkets.

Inputs Courtesy: Dictionary.com

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