UNUSUAL WORDS CVI

Can you give a simple definition of these less-frequently-used words?

1. SCLERA

2. CONFIT

3. BABKA

4. QUERN

5. SPOOR

6. CAVIL

7. FLEER

8. PARLANCE

9. COCKEREL

10. BICAMERAL 

11. CREPUSCULAR

12. ANDROGENOUS

 

Answers:

 

1. SCLERA - The white outer coating of the eyeball

 

2. CONFIT - (kown fee') - Duck or other meat cooked slowly in it own fat

 

3. BABKA - Traditional Jewish sweet braided bread/coffee cake, originally made from left-over challah from the Sabbath

 

4. QUERN - A simple hand mill for grinding grain, typically consisting of two circular stones - the upper one rotated on the lower one

 

5. SPOOR - The track or scent of an animal

 

6. CAVIL - Carp, complain - especially with petty or unnecessary objections 

 

7. FLEER - Laugh jeeringly in a coarse derisive manner

 

8. PARLANCE - Way of speaking - especially a way common to those with a particular job or interest - jargon / Words used to socially temper certain topics (Oral contraceptives are referred to as "the pill" in common parlance.)

 

9. COCKEREL - A male chicken (rooster) less than a year old

 

10. BICAMERAL - (of a legislative body) Having two branches or chambers - as the U.S. Congress (House of Representatives and Senate)

 

11. CREPUSCULAR - Resembling or related to twilight or dawn, (of an) animal active during these hours (including deer, rabbits, and bears)

 

12. ANDROGYNOUS -  Of indeterminate sex, partly male and female, Neither specifically masculine or feminine