Nobody's Nothings Life, the Universe and Everything

not what you think. in truth, i went through tons of words in the archives this morning. i clicked on every word i couldn’t pronounce and even started to use one or two of them, but they just didn’t feel right this morning. eventually, i settled for this word, because when i clicked on it i thought “what other meaning can the word “pink” possibly have that would make it WOTD worthy?” because we all know the word pink. but not like this. so this morning, i’m giving you the side of the word “Pink” that isn’t just a boring old color.

pink • \PINK\  • verb

1 a : to perforate in an ornamental pattern

* b : to cut a saw-toothed edge on

2 a : pierce, stab

b : to wound by irony, criticism, or ridicule

Example Sentence:

“The sleek curtain requires no sewing; we pinked the edges to add a bit of detail.” (Jennie Voorhees,Martha Stewart Living, April 2002)

Did you know?

Our unabridged dictionary, Webster’s Third New International, includes 13 distinct entries for “pink,” whereas our abridged volume, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate, satisfies itself with the five most common. (Words get distinct entries in our dictionaries when they have different etymologies or different parts of speech.) Today’s “pink,” the only verb of the five, is from a Middle English word meaning “to thrust.” Of the remaining four, the only “pink” older than the verb (which dates to 1503) is a 15th century noun referring to a kind of ship. The next-oldest noun has since 1573 referred to a genus of herbs. The noun referring to the color pink and its related adjective date to 1678 and 1720, respectively. Evidence suggests that a new verb “pink” — a synonym of the verb “pink-slip” — is also emerging. 

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.

so next time you want to fight somebody with a saw, serrated steak knife, or possibly just yell profanities at them and wound them with your clever ironic criticism… yell out “BOY i’m gonna PINK you up REAL GOOD!” and don’t forget the southern accent. nobody’s gonna take a threat using the word “pink” seriously, unless you sound like a deranged redneck. it also helps if you wave your weapon of choice above your head while yelling.

Continue reading Webster’s Wednesday: Pink