Words of the Day (17.07.2024)

Decoction (from Latin decoquere 'to boil down') is ' a concentrated liquor resulting from heating or boiling a substance, especially a medicinal preparation made from a plant '. Compare it with the word concoction.

Piedmont means 'lying at the base of mountains'. The word comes from the Piedmont region in Italy. Ad pedem montium in Latin means 'at the foot of the mountains '.

Placer (=placer deposit) (from Spanish placer 'alluvial sand') may contain gold or other valuable materials. Placer mining was the main technique in many gold rushes, including the California Gold Rush.

Semolina (from Italian semolo 'bran') is used in making pasta and sweet puddings. In Russia, we call it manka and use it as porridge.


To stave in. A stave is a strong stick or pole.

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