by Chris January 31, 2005
Corruption of the word "Twat", meaning a womans genitals, also used as an insult. Was first used to insult a Welsh teacher, who put the "-ash" suffix on every word she could, for example "Put thash pencil down!"
In a sexual manner:
"Mark would love to lick Nina's twash, but he has a bird"
As an insult:
"Piss off you twash"
"Mark would love to lick Nina's twash, but he has a bird"
As an insult:
"Piss off you twash"
by Chris April 08, 2005
In music, an alto or contralto is a singer with a vocal range somewhere between a tenor and a mezzo-soprano. The term is used incorrectly to refer to the deepest female singing voice, while in actuality it defines one of the highest male voices.
A typical alto will have a range from around the F below middle C to the E a tenth above middle C (i.e. F3-E5); at the bottom of their range. Given poor recording quality, altos can sound almost like tenors. Some altos have even larger ranges; from the C below middle C to the C two octaves above (C3-C6 if middle C is C4). In four part (SATB) choral harmony, the alto is the second highest voice. Altos originally sang from music written in the alto clef, but now use the treble clef.
Although both men and women may have voices in the alto range, the word is usually used to mean a female singer.
However, choirs singing early music frequently include adult male altos, also called countertenors. In English church usage, the term alto is sometimes exclusively used to mean a boy with this range, while contralto is used correctly for a female singer. However, this is not done consistently, and for most practical purposes, alto and contralto can be thought of as synonyms (the phrase "boy alto" can be used if there is a chance of misunderstanding). A few popular music enthusiasts define the contralto and alto separately, as the contralto having an especially dark range and timbre, from the D above low C to Tenor C, which is essentially a female of a tenor range, while alto is a voice with a range from F below middle C to the F an eleventh above middle C, and is closer to the mezzo-soprano. The majority however define contralto and alto as synonyms, and assign the adjectives light and dark, with a dark alto being a female of tenor range, while a light alto, commonly referred to as simply alto, to include mezzo-sopranos as well.
A typical alto will have a range from around the F below middle C to the E a tenth above middle C (i.e. F3-E5); at the bottom of their range. Given poor recording quality, altos can sound almost like tenors. Some altos have even larger ranges; from the C below middle C to the C two octaves above (C3-C6 if middle C is C4). In four part (SATB) choral harmony, the alto is the second highest voice. Altos originally sang from music written in the alto clef, but now use the treble clef.
Although both men and women may have voices in the alto range, the word is usually used to mean a female singer.
However, choirs singing early music frequently include adult male altos, also called countertenors. In English church usage, the term alto is sometimes exclusively used to mean a boy with this range, while contralto is used correctly for a female singer. However, this is not done consistently, and for most practical purposes, alto and contralto can be thought of as synonyms (the phrase "boy alto" can be used if there is a chance of misunderstanding). A few popular music enthusiasts define the contralto and alto separately, as the contralto having an especially dark range and timbre, from the D above low C to Tenor C, which is essentially a female of a tenor range, while alto is a voice with a range from F below middle C to the F an eleventh above middle C, and is closer to the mezzo-soprano. The majority however define contralto and alto as synonyms, and assign the adjectives light and dark, with a dark alto being a female of tenor range, while a light alto, commonly referred to as simply alto, to include mezzo-sopranos as well.
Alfred Deller, the grandfather of modern countertenors, possessed a beautiful lyrical voice in the alto range.
by Chris June 18, 2006
by Chris February 22, 2005
by Chris February 18, 2005
by Chris November 05, 2003
A person who is utterly addicted to all forms of television. Most especially reality television shows, for example; Starting Over House, The Biggest Loser, Fear Factor et al. This disease however is not limited to only reality television shows, but also Law and Order and it's derevitives.
by Chris January 11, 2005