unusual words: cucumiform
I stumbled upon the word “cucumiform” when I was studying for the GRE (thanks, Dave!), and it instantly became my favorite word in all of the English language. The definition varies from site to site, but basically boils down to, “shaped like a cucumber.” A quick Google search reveals that this is one of those words that only shows up on dictionary sites. I can’t understand why. Say CUCUMIFORM out loud and then look me in the eye, seriously, and tell me that it’s not hilarious.
It’s my goal to get the word “cucumiform” associated with some legitimate content, or at least more than just dictionary listings. Let’s start with a haiku about the situation:
Word: Cucumiform.
Meaning: Shaped like cucumbers.
Frequency used: Rare.
Now here’s a list of things that are cucumiform:
- Many Nerf toys are cucumiform.
- Pinocchio’s nose is cucumiform.
- Hand rolled Cuban cigars are cucumiform.
- Peeled bananas are cucumiform (that’s right, I went there, I crossed the food group lines).
Expressions or maxims that would be improved with the addition of the word “cucumiform”:
- As cucumiform as the day is long.
- As cucumiform as a three dollar bill.
- Cucumiform like a fox.
- To err is human, to forgive, cucumiform.
Join my quest. Add your own.
Hahaha, THIS is a goal I can appreciate. I think this word should also be involved in some new tongue twisters–may I propose:
-Carrie carves cuneiform on cucumiform forms
-Capriform capricorns have cucumiform germs
-Cucumiform coliforms crowd conformist Carl’s colon
“My, this flashlight, like many others, is remarkably cucumiform.”
See also: phallic.
Unfortunate, albeit unlikely, uses of our new favourite word, which in the UK happens to be spelled, “cucumiformme,” from the Latin ‘cucummus’:
-In Rocky IV, Ivan Drago was a cucumiformidable opponent for Rocky Balboa
-”No taxation without cucumiformation”
-The Catholic Cucumiformity Acts of England
This quote is the reason I typed “cucumiform” into Google to try to find out what it meant, and so found this page – it is from Malcolm Lowry’s “Under The Volcano”:
“But the abominable impact on his whole being at this moment of the fact that that hideously elongated cucumiform bundle of blue nerves and gills below the steaming unselfconscious stomach had sought its pleasure in his wife’s body brought him trembling to his feet.”