Hector's Pup (Rebroadcast) - 6 June 2016

<p>This week on "A Way with Words": Sharing a secret language. Did you ever speak in gibberish with a childhood pal, adding extra syllables to words so the adults couldn't understand what you were saying? Such wordplay isn't just for kids--and it's not just limited to English. Also, memory tricks to hold onto those slippery words you always forget. And, what do you call your warm, knitted cap? Is it a beanie, a tuque, a toboggan, or something else? The answer has everything to do with where you live. Plus cutting a rusty, foundering on cake, hone in vs. home in, Jeezum Crow!, and triboluminescence.<br /> <br /> FULL DETAILS<br /> <br /> We heard from someone on the show a while back about what to call an ex-wife's new husband. Lots of listeners called in and wrote us with their suggestions, including husband-in-law and step-husband to relief pitcher, stunt double, and version 2.0.<br /> <br /> If you've spent any time in the Vermont region, chances are you've heard the exclamation Jeezum Crow!, which is simply a euphemism for "Jesus Christ!"<br /> <br /> Martha went on an overnight backpacking trip and came back with a new word: triboluminescence, which refers to the glow created by rubbing together two pieces of quartz. The tribo- is from a Greek root meaning "to rub," the source also of diatribe, which has to do with "wearing away" using words.<br /> <br /> The verb to founder applies to horses that overeat to a dangerous extent. It's used by extension in less severe situations involving humans, such as children at a birthday party foundering on cake and ice cream.<br /> <br /> Grant came across a lovely discussion on Metafilter about ways to denote farting. His two favorites: making a little wish, and love puff, used at that point in a relationship where you feel okay passing gas in front of your significant other.<br /> <br /> Our Quiz Guy John Chaneski, who belongs to the National Puzzlers' League, brought us a game inspired by the league’s newsletter. In this game, based on head-to-tail shifts, the first le