Jesfine's definitions

Terry Waite's allotment

Self-explanatory to Britishers in the 1990's, this description of unruly hair will puzzle the rest of us, so:
1. Terry Waite served as the Anglican Church's international diplomacy negotiator. In 1987, he was himself taken hostage in Lebanon and held mostly in solitary confinement until his release in 1991. He's a well-known public speaker now.
2. "Allotment" in Britain is an urban rented garden patch.
Hence, Terry Waite's allotment would be untended and weed-choked.
I haven't determined if Waite actually was an allotment holder at the time of his confinement.

The man on the bench had a red beard like Terry Waite's allotment.

by Jesfine January 1, 2005

taw

a marble of semiprecious stone, especially when used as a shooter.

Never risk your favorite taw in a game against a stranger.

by jesfine July 14, 2004

steelie

a ball bearing introduced into a game of marbles

Neighborhood rules prohibited use of a steelie as a shooter.

by jesfine July 14, 2004

Double-D

Double Diamond beer (British)

After a trying day, expect a millworker to order a Double D.

by jesfine July 14, 2004

aggie

A marble made of agate.

My favorite shooter is an aggie.

by jesfine July 14, 2004

the bomb

nuclear weapons in general

When China got the bomb, the USSR felt more threatened than did the US.

by Jesfine July 10, 2004

viral advertising

(Also known as viral marketing). Releasing a video or other creation in hopes that it will be widely forwarded and be beneficial for a product or service referenced in the creation. If the creation seems amateurish even though it was created by professionals paid by the organization that benefits from being referenced, the effort is known as "subviral".

A cartoon showing three bathroom stalls with balloons of the expressions "Butt", "Wipe", and "Errr" should be suspected of being viral marketing for Anhaeuser Busch.

by Jesfine September 2, 2003