In the 18th century, the Swedish government made coffee and its paraphernalia (including cups and dishes) illegal for its supposed ties to rebellious sentiment.
LEMMING
lemming
(noun) any of various short-tailed furry-footed rodents of circumpolar distribution
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
lemming (plural lemmings)
A small Arctic and Subarctic rodent from any of six genera of similar rodents.
(figuratively) Any member of a group given to conformity or groupthink, especially a group poised to follow a leader off a cliff.
Source: Wiktionary
Lem"ming, n. Etym: [Nor. lemming, lemende; cf. Sw. lemel, Lapp. lummik.] (Zoöl.)
Definition: Any one of several species of small arctic rodents of the genera Myodes and Cuniculus, resembling the meadow mice in form. They are found in both hemispheres.
Note: The common Northern European lemming (Myodes lemmus) is remarkable for making occasional devastating migrations in enormous numbers from the mountains into the lowlands.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
23 May 2025
THOUGHTFULLY
(adverb) showing consideration and thoughtfulness; “he had thoughtfully brought with him some food to share”
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