slang list

[Mark A. Mandel]

Dictionary of New Terms

Compiled by the History of the English Language classes at Hope College, 
1997-2002

http://www.hope.edu/academic/english/gruenler/newterms.htm

An alphabetical list of 574 expressions, many of them college slang and many 
of them local to Hope College. Some are familiar to me, many are not; some 
may be of interest to readers of this list. Some examples:

 	academic placenta n. The last of one's academic ideology that exists 
in one's first years as a professional in the real world. "That new guy is 
insufferable. He really needs to shed his academic placenta and figure out 
how things really work around here." Used by those in the business world. 
See: www.sabram.com/site/slang.html.

 	airborne v. intr. A technical term used by the even year pull team. 
When the pullers are on the rope, one might say, "Airborne, lets fly." This 
means to get the rope up off the ground on the next heave. This word also 
gets everyone on the team excited and crazy. [Presumably local to Hope 
College, judging by "the even year pull team".-- MAM]

 	gaposis n. The condition that arises when the fabric between the 
buttons on a shirt does not lie flat and instead comes apart to expose the 
skin. "I shouldn't have worn this shirt without something under it, I have 
been experiencing gaposis."

 	word n. A question asked to another person in greeting them. This is 
to ask someone what the word is on how they are and what they are doing. As 
a person walks past they may be greeted with, "Word!" This derives from 
"word" as information or news. "Word up" is a common phrase used with this 
definition to ask what is happening with someone else. Often used in 
alternative and rap music. [This is the first time I have seen any etymology 
for this expression. -- MAM]

 	wormburner n. A fast and hard tee shot in golf that never rises more 
than a few feet from the ground and just streaks along the ground. This 
refers to the speed and friction that causes heat so close to the ground 
that will literally burn the worms. "Wow, that was a wormburner
better luck 
next time. Ha, ha!"


-- Mark A. Mandel
[This text prepared with Dragon NaturallySpeaking.]