I recently bought a handful of Chappies, and as I unwrapped them, a wave of nostalgia hit me while I read (and giggled about) some of the ‘Did you know?’ facts.
This led me to scouring the internet for some fun facts. I was not disappointed, as I discovered a few gems of the English language. I want to share the fun, as I believe we all need a giggle or two during these times to lighten our hearts and refresh our minds.
Here are a few ‘Did you know?’ facts I am sure not everyone knew:
- The space between your eyebrows is a glabella.
- The way it smells after the rain is called petrichor.
- The rumbling of a stomach is called a wamble.
- The plastic or metallic coating at the end of your shoelaces is called an aglet.
- The cry of a newborn baby is called a vagitus.
- The prongs on a fork are called tines.
- The sheen or light you see when you close your eyes and press your hands on them is called phosphenes.
- The day after tomorrow is called overmorrow.
- Your little toe or finger is called minimus.
- The wired cage that holds the cork in a champagne bottle is called an agraffe.
- When you combine an exclamation mark with a question mark (!?) it is referred to as an interrobang.
- The space between your nostrils is called columella nasi.
- The condition of finding it difficult to get out of bed in the morning is called sysania.
- Illegible handwriting is called griffonage.
- The dot over an i or j is called tittle.
- The utterly sick feeling you get after eating or drinking too much is called crapulence.
- The metallic device used to measure your feet at the shoe store is called a Bannock device.
I hope you enjoyed these as much as I did, and like me, also learnt a few new words. Do you have any other fun facts to share? Send them to roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za
Until next week, stay safe and healthy.
