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January 2006Just Foolin’ AroundBenjamin Franklin’s 300th birthday, along with the chilly weather, has gotten us thinking about inventors who have given their names to inventions (think Franklin stove). The list is easy to create with the Advanced Search option. Using the Unabridged Dictionary, click on Advanced Search; type inventor in the Etymology box, then hit Search. The 172 entries range from aba to zerk . . . and yes, they include Franklin stove. Here’s a sample: axel noun [after Axel Paulsen flourished about 1890, its inventor] figure skating : a jump from the outer forward edge of one skate l 1/2 turns taken in the air and a return to the outer backward edge of the other skate baud noun [after J.M.E. Baudot died 1903 French inventor] : a unit equal to one dot per second or the equivalent interval per second and used in measuring the speed of signaling in telegraphic code derringer noun [after Henry Deringer, 19th century American inventor] : a short-barreled pocket pistol Gatling gun noun [after Richard J. Gatling died 1903 American inventor] : a machine gun consisting of a cluster of barrels that when revolved by a crank are loaded and fired once each during a revolution of the group mackintosh noun [after Charles Macintosh died 1843 Scottish chemist and inventor] 1 chiefly Britain : RAINCOAT 2 : a lightweight waterproof fabric originally of rubberized cotton mason jar noun [after John L. Mason, 19th century American inventor] 1 : a wide-mouthed glass jar with a porcelain-lined zinc screw cap sealed at cap edge and glass shoulder by a flat rubber ring 2 : any of various wide-mouth jars with a screw cap used for home canning Murphy bed noun [after William L. Murphy, 20th century American inventor] : a bed that may be folded or swung into a closet when not in use Reuben sandwich noun [probably after Reuben Kulakofsky died 1960 American grocer & reputed inventor of the sandwich] : a grilled sandwich consisting of corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut usually on rye bread saxophone noun [French, from Antoine J. (known as Adolphe) Sax died 1894 Belgian maker of musical instruments, its inventor + French –phone] 1 : a wind instrument that combines the reed mouthpiece of a clarinet with a usually curved conical metal tube made in various sizes, that is equipped with finger keys, and that is used especially in military bands and dance orchestras 2 : a flue or reed pipe-organ stop so constructed as to imitate the saxophone stent noun [after Charles R. Stent died 1901 English dentist, inventor of the compound] 1 : a compound or a mold made of the compound for holding a surgical graft in place 2 : something (as a pad of gauze immobilized by sutures) used like a stent |
