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Definitions by shoggoth

tumbleweed 

Dusty aggregation of plant matter rolled along the ground by the desert wind. A cliche of Western movies, emphasising silence or stillness, e.g. as the hero rides into an apparently deserted frontier town. Often used in connection with the death of a conversation after one participant unwittingly reveals that they are a moron. See also tumbleweed moment.
"But then Katie made a singularly unfunny cancer joke..."
"Ah. Tumbleweed?"
"Yeah."
tumbleweed by shoggoth August 10, 2003
Extreme intestinal disturbance associated with food-borne pathogens. Food poisoning not serious enough to require hospital treatment, but causing regular and horrific bouts of galloping diarrhea.
"Hi, this is Ben Hawley. Um, I won't be coming in today 'cause I've got the gutrot. So I'll... oh no..."
gutrot by shoggoth August 10, 2003

necronomicon 

A volume of arcane and occult knowledge featured in the horror stories of H P Lovecraft. Though he made reference to some genuine texts, the "unmentionable Necronomicon of the mad Arab Abdul Alhazred" was entirely his invention. Throughout the Fifties and Sixties his books gained such a following among college students that numerous hoax versions were produced, drawing heavily on his own Cthulhu fiction and the writings of Aleister Crowley.
"You've got a Necronomicon? Woo, I'm impressed. *opens it* You'll notice that turning this diagram upside-down actually displays the Arabic for PROFESSOR CARLING BLOWS GOATS."
necronomicon by shoggoth August 10, 2003