UNUSUAL WORDS CXXXII

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

1. BUNG

2. DOULA 

3. CASEIN 

4 SCREED 

5. DROGUE

6. DEWLAP

7. BRIOCHE 

8. SEMOLINA 

9. LOTHARIO

10. AMBIVERT

11. CAPSAICIN 

12. EQUANIMOUS 

 

Answers:

 

1. BUNG - A stopper or plug in a cask or barrel to seal an opening 

 

2. DOULA - A non-medical person trained to give physical, emotional, and informational  support to a woman before, during, and shortly after childbirth

 

3. CASEIN (kay' seen) -  The principal protein found in milk 

 

4. SCREED - A long, tedious, ranting piece of writing or speech 

 

5. DROGUE - A small, specialized parachute deployed at high speeds to slow down and stabilize an object moving through water, air, or space / The drogue may be used to pull a much larger parachute out of its pack (for a final descent).

 

6. DEWLAP - Fold or flap of loose skin that hangs below the lower jaw or neck of many vertebrates - as a rooster / (The dewlap is sometimes called a wattle.) 

 

7. BRIOCHE - A rich bread roll made with eggs, milk, and butter

 

8. SEMOLINA - A coarse, yellowish flour from durum wheat / used in pizza dough and other pasta (also called farina)

 

9. LOTHARIO - A fictional character whose name has come to mean a charming, unscrupulous, and obsessive seducer of women / rake / womanizer

 

10. AMBIVERT - One whose personality is well-balanced between being an introvert and an extrovert

 

11. CAPSAICIN (kap say' sin) The chemical compound found in chili peppers that makes them "hot"/ measured by the Scoville Scale (Scoviille Heat Units -SHU)

Bell pepper - 0 SHU

Cascabella ("yellow peppers") 1500 - 4,000 /SHU 

Jalapeno - 2,500 - 10,000 SHU

Tabasco, Cayenne - 25,000 - 50,000 SHU

Habanero  - 100,000 - 350,000 SHU 

Carolina Reaper -  1,500,000 - 2,500,000 SHU

Pure capsaicin - 16,000,000 SHU (estimated)

 

12. EQUANIMOUS -  Having a calm, even-tempered, and composed state of mind - especially under stress / emotionally stable