Lumber and lumbar - watch out for the spelling!

I covered the unique uses of lumber a few weeks ago.

In that post I neglected to mention that the spelling of the word is important.

Find more about lumber here.

'Lumbar' derives from the Latin 'lumbus' which translates as 'loin'. It is the area of the body, front and back, where you find the lower ribs and the hip bones.

Arising from lumbar is 'lumbar puncture' which is a medical procedure during which fluid is withdrawn from or injected into the spine via a hollow needle.

And 'lumbago' is related and refers to the pain that may arise in the lower back if there is strain or damage to that region of the body.

convivial

In direct contrast to 'verbose' we have 'convivial' company in which we are enjoying sociable, friendly interactions in an easy, relaxed way.

When a person is convivial, they are likely to be sought out as companionable, a wonderful icebreaker at dinner parties, humourous and entertaining without dominating the floor.

Conviviality is something to aspire to!

verbose

So many pictures, even caricatures, are carried in this word.

Mostly used as an adjective, it means excessive wordiness in someone's communication that renders the speaker boring, pedantic or pompous.

Be mindful of the context in which you use it because of the negative connotations.

lumber

This interesting word is used differently and with various meanings across the US, Canada, Britain and Australia. It's worth exploring iin all those contexts.

As a noun, in the US and Canada, lumber refers to sawn logs or ready-to-use timber.

In contrast, in the UK, lumber, as a noun, refers to useless, irrelevant household articles that are stored somewhere out of sight. Imagine this.. One of those deserted manor homes with lumber in each cupboard of every room!

As a verb the word sustains its various geographical interpretations.

In the US and Canada, the verb 'to lumber' is associated with one working in the wood and timber industry - the 'lumbering' industry. A 'lumberjack' is someone who earns his living in wood and timber industries.

In the UK, the meaning of the verb 'lumber', implies that someone is encumbered with unwanted goods and materials or has had the same foisted upon them unwillingly. It is also used to indicate that one is burdened with a tiresome, tedious task or situation.

In Australia, the meaning is specific: it means to arrest or imprison and, not surprisingly, this usage arises in the 17 Century.

Cutting across all these conventions is the verb that describes a particularly awkward walk. When someone 'lumbers along' they are certainly struggling to walk and are likely to be physically encumbered while doing so. In this context, the verb can be applied to a living or mechanical modes of transport. Thus elephants, used as beasts of burden, would lumber along forest tracks in Thailand as much as a heavily laden goods train would lumber along its track, making a deafening noise as it did so.

I would encourage you to use this word as one of those that provides texture and mental pictures to your listeners. Placed in accurate context, it could serve well as a punch line or as an essential component of a narrative.

furphy

This uniquely Australian word is and most relevant on the eve of ANZAC Day.

The Furphy was a water cart made in Victoria in a foundry run by the Furphy family. The carts were used during WW1 to distribute drinking water to the troops.

In its language context, a 'furphy' is a rumour or unsubstantiated piece of information, or an entirely fictitious story. And, can you just see how the use of the word arose!

It is one of my favourites.

fossick

This word, uniquely from Australia and New Zealand, lends itself most generously to serious and humorous contexts.

Serious because, in its true sense, 'to fossick' is to dig for gold and precious stones in abandoned, deserted, remote places.

Light-hearted because we may choose to fossick for lost and mislaid items in our homes, places of work, cupboards and, without doubt, backyard sheds!

The word most likely arose from 'fussock', English dialect meaning 'to fuss'.

I'm sure you'll agree that its origin completes a glorious picture of the word.