Mental Floss

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Only about 0.02 percent of the words in a dictionary start with the letter 'X.' Here are 40 of those rarities.

Paul Anthony Jones
James Joyce.

Making up words is a common internet pastime, but James Joyce was way ahead of the curve in this area. Discover 13 of the most fascinating words coined by the famed Irish author.

Mark Peters




These little witches look like they might be running a gum-game.

Tricks aren’t just for kids anymore—nor are trick words! Here are 11 old-timey words for pranks and capers, perfect for when you’re feeling curmudgeonly about Halloween revelers knocking on your door for treats.

Angela Tung




You say you have better ways to call B.S.? Bottlewash!

Chances are you’ve been using the B.S. word a lot lately, and might be looking to change things up. Look no further than this list of 19 delightful old-timey terms.

Angela Tung