megilla

[Ben Zimmer]

On Tue, Oct 26, 2010 at 12:21 PM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
>
> Tony Harris on CNN: "This is just a *magilla* of a storm!  *There's* a word
> a haven't used in a long time!"
>
> 250 RGs for "magilla of a."
>
> I assume this has been influenced by "The Magilla Gorilla Show"
> (1963-1967).  It's a gorilla of a storm. You know, a monster.

Today's "Doonesbury" has Roland Hedley saying to a fictional Dubya,
"Mr. President, let's talk about the big magilla -- your decision to
invade Iraq."

http://www.doonesbury.com/strip/archive/2010/11/07

--bgz

--
Ben Zimmer
http://benzimmer.com/

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org