last week’s new words
peristalsis
peri: around + stellein: constrict (greek)
undulating muscle action that propels material along the axis of a tube, such as the digestive tract. (google define)
lath
(middle english)
thin narrow strips of wood used as a foundation for plaster; any foundation for plaster. (m-w.com)
mellifluous
mel: honey + fluere: flow (latin)
sounding sweet and smooth; filled with something that sweetens (m-w.com)
meerschaum
meer: sea + schaum: foam (german)
a soft mineral found in the sea initially thought to be petrified sea foam, is a magnesium silicate used for tobacco pipes; a pipe made from meerschaum (google define)
patronymic
patr: father + onyma: name (greek)
a name derived from the name of the father or paternal ancestor and the addition of an affix (as in the Gaelic tradition: Mackenzie) or suffix (as in the Scandanavian: Edmundson and Russian: Sergyavich tradition)(google define)