Okapi

okapi \ō-ˈkä-pē\ noun: an African ungulate mammal (Okapia johnstoni) that is closely related to the giraffe but has a relatively short neck, a coat typically of solid reddish chestnut on the trunk, yellowish white on the cheeks, and purplish-black and cream rings on the upper parts of the legs

Etymology: Mvuba (language spoken west of Lake Edward, Democratic Republic of the Congo)

The definition is as accurate as a definition can be, but it won’t help much if you’ve never seen an okapi. At least there’s Goole image search.

Limpid

limpid \ˈlim-pəd\ adjective: 1 a. marked by transparency; pellucid {limpid streams}, b. clear and simple in style {limpid prose},
2. absolutely serene and untroubled

Etymology: French limpide, from Latin limpidus, perhaps from lympha water

Compare limpid to diaphanous, pellucid, transpicuous and perspicuous.

Coprolite

coprolite \ˈkä-prə-ˌlīt\ noun: fossilized excrement

Etymology: Ancient Greek kopros dung + -lite (from lithos stone)

Deliciously obfuscatory!

Missileer

missileer \ˌmi-sə-ˈlir\ noun: one engaged in designing, building or operating guided missiles; missileman

Etymology: English missil- (from missile) + -eer one that is concerned with professionally

Neil Sheehan’s A Fiery Peace in a Cold War: Bernard Schriever and the Ultimate Weapon (2009) follows the U.S. Air Force’s race with the Soviet Union to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles in the 1950s. It’s an engaging page-turner.

Scrip

scrip \ˈskrip\ noun: 1. (archaic) a small bag or wallet, 2. a short writing (as a certificate, schedule or list),
3. a small piece,
4 a. any of various documents used as evidence that the holder or bearer is entitled to receive something (as a fractional share of stock or an allotment of land), b. paper currency or a token issued for temporary use in an emergency, 5. prescription; a written direction for a therapeutic or corrective agent (specifically one for the preparation and use of a medicine)

Etymology: (for definition 1) Middle English scrippe, from Medieval Latin scrippum pilgrim’s knapsack; (for definitions 2, 3 & 4) alteration of script

How can one be sure another’s utterance is truly scrip and not merely a slurring of script?

Lassitude

lassitude \ˈla-sə-ˌtüd\ noun: 1. a condition of weariness or debility; fatigue, 2. a condition of listlessness; languor

Etymology: Middle English, from Latin lassitudo, from lassus weary

I’d rather be languorous than fatigued, but in either case lassitude holds sway.

Barmy

barmy \ˈbär-mē\ adjective: full of froth or ferment

Etymology: from Old English beorma yeast

Yikes. Barmy. Well, then.

Harangue

harangue \hə-ˈraŋ\ noun: 1. a speech addressed to a public assembly,
2. a ranting speech or writing,
3. lecture

Etymology: Middle French arenge, from Old Italian aringa, from aringare to speak in public, from aringo public assembly, of Germanic origin

How would lemon harangue pie taste?

Jeremiad

jeremiad \ˌjer-ə-ˈmī-əd\ noun: 1. a prolonged lamentation or complaint, 2. a cautionary or angry harangue

Etymology: French jérémiade, from Jérémie Jeremiah, from Late Latin Jeremias

Jeremiah is traditionally ascribed as the author of the Book of Lamentations.

Elision

elision \i-ˈli-zhən\ noun: 1 a. the use of a speech form that lacks a final or initial sound which a variant speech form has (as ’s instead of is in there’s), b. the omission of an unstressed vowel or syllable in a verse to achieve a uniform metrical pattern,
2. the act or an instance of omitting something; omission

elide \i-ˈlīd\ transitive verb: 1 a. to suppress or alter (as a vowel or syllable) by elision, b. to strike out (as a written word),
2 a. to leave out of consideration; omit, b. curtail; abridge

Etymology: Latin elidere to strike out, from e- + laedere to injure by striking

Elision reminds me of the name Elijah.

Desuetude

desuetude \ˈde-swi-ˌtüd\ noun: discontinuance from use or exercise; disuse

Etymology: Middle English dissuetude, from Latin desuetudo, from desuescere to become unaccustomed

What a beautiful-sounding word.

Cuspidor

cuspidor \ˈkəs-pə-ˌdor\ noun: a receptacle for spit; spitoon

Etymology: Portuguese cuspidouro place for spitting, from cuspir to spit, from Latin conspuere, from com- + spuere to spit

Don’t mistake your humidor for a cuspidor.

Asperity

asperity \a-ˈsper-ə-tē\ noun: 1. rigor, severity, 2. roughness of surface; unneveness; a tiny projection from a surface, 3. roughness of sound,
4. roughness of manner or of temper; harshness {asked with some asperity just what they were implying}

Etymology: Middle English asprete, from Anglo-French aspreté, from aspre rough, from Latin asper, from Old Latin absperos

Since Merriam brings it up, just what were they implying?

Last Word

Last Word

½ oz gin
½ oz green Chartreuse
½ oz Maraschino
½ oz lime juice

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

FIFTEEN — “So Lloyd and Jake revealed themselves to the world. It was quite a surprise, but they explained that they’d just wanted to take a break from everything for a little while. They’re here to stay now, so obviously everyone’s plans for bringing them back from extinction are unnecessary. Oh, well. Let’s all have a drink, guys.”

Sidecar

Sidecar

1½ oz brandy
1 oz triple sec
½ oz lemon juice

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

FOURTEEN — Lloyd rose from his seat. “Let’s get this over with.”

Bijou

Bijou

1 oz gin
1 oz green Chartreuse
1 oz sweet vermouth

Stir with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

THIRTEEN — “Sometimes, Jake, I wonder what it will be like after all this is behind us. I think I’ll build a little house by the ocean. Something modest, you know. And maybe I’ll get a dog and finally learn to play that guitar my uncle handed down.”

Little Witch

Little Witch

2 oz silver tequila
½ oz Strega
½ oz lemon juice
½ oz simple syrup
2 oregano sprigs

Muddle the oregano in the simple syrup, then shake all ingredients with ice and double strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

TWELVE — Maria launched into another of her tirades and Umberto struggled with the urge to cover his ears. “And another thing,” she began, as her voice crescendoed to a shriek, “what if I were to tell all of you right now that the dodo is alive and well! It’s not extinct, and never was! That’s right! Stop looking at me that way,” she went on as they all stared in disbelief. “I have one in my apartment as we speak. He’s been living there for months now.” At this news Umberto started, and his response did not go unnoticed. “It’s not like that,” Maria said, lowering her voice.

Pegu Club Cocktail

Pegu Club Cocktail

2 oz gin
¾ oz orange liqueur
½ oz lime juice
1 dash Angostura bitters
1 dash orange bitters

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

ELEVEN — Verne stood to face them behind the bar.
“Ok,” he said, “just so that we all know where we stand.”
“I never took you for a traitor, Verne,” Umberto said, edging forward, away from the two menaces behind them.
“Just hand over the lady’s papers, or hand over the lady. It’s your choice. Either way you’re not leaving here with a manual on how to reincarnate extinct birds.”
“Oh, get over it.” Maria spoke in slow, deliberate syllables. “I’ve had about all I can take of your right-wing proselytizing.”

Brave Bull

Brave Bull

2 oz silver tequila
1 oz coffe liqueur

Build over ice in a rocks glass.

TEN — They were stopped in their tracks by the vultures who had been trailing Maria to the bar. “Leaving so soon?”
As the two thugs closed in Umberto took hold of Maria’s arm. “Let me do the talking,” he whispered to her.

Margarita

Margarita

1½ oz silver tequila
1 oz triple sec
½ oz lime juice

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

NINE — Umberto cut to the chase. “Did you manage to retrieve the information?” “It’s good to see you, too.” Maria ruffled her feathers and shifted in her seat. She lowered her voice. “Yes, I've got it, just like I promised.” “There was a time I recall when you didn’t keep your promises so well.” Maria opened her beak to respond to this unwarranted dig, but kept her eyes glued to the bartender on the phone. Verne had picked up the receiver and dialed as soon as she entered the bar, and his occasional furtive glances at the two of them had not gone unnoticed. She grabbed Umberto’s arm. “We have to get out of here now,” she hissed under her breath. “It’s not safe!” She flew off her bar stool, Umberto trailing unsteadily behind.

Bourbon Crusta

Bourbon Crusta

1½ oz bourbon
½ oz triple sec
½ oz lemon juice
¼ oz Maraschino

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

EIGHT — Maria was just as surprised to have escaped the vultures as Umberto was to finally see her. They took a second to compose themselves. (She to catch her breath and he to shake off the cocktails.)

Manhattan

Manhattan

2 oz rye whiskey
1 oz sweet vermouth
2 dashes bitters

Stir with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

SEVEN — “Verne, make me another Red Hook. I’ll give her ten more minutes to show up; then I’m out of here.”

French Connection

French Connection

1 oz brandy
1 oz Grand Marnier

Serve in a snifter or rocks glass neat (i.e., without ice, sans glaçons, ohne Eis, senza ghiaccio…)

SIX — Always one step ahead of her pursuers, Maria Giovanna had managed to exhaust them in a fruitless chase that wove its harried course from the Sycamore Building through the dank alleyways of the city. Now she remained as still as possible, and could here one turkey vulture exhale with audible difficulty as the other scuffed his feet on the cement. “Papers or not, I’ve had about all I can take of that bird, Giacomo. When we find her I’m going to feed her to the worms.” Maria automatically pressed the letter under her wing more tightly; she was not about to give up that which she fought so hard to procure.

Stinger

Stinger

2¼ oz brandy
¾ oz white crème de menthe

Shake with ice and strain into a glass filled with crushed ice.

FIVE — Tending to a stork who had ambled in and ordered a Stinger, Verne left Umberto alone with his anxiety. It was just as well; his debating skills tended to provoke nothing but yawns anyway. “Where’s Maria?” he asked himself. “It’s not like her to be late.” His nervous talons set to work shredding another napkin.

Old Pal

Old Pal

1½ oz rye whiskey
½ oz Campari
½ oz dry vermouth

Stir with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

FOUR — “Dead birds,” huffed Verne. “So what?” The feathers on the back of Umberto’s neck stood on end as he shot back with unexpected passion: “The dodo and the moa are our cousins; bringing them back from extinction isn’t just a hobby for bored scientists — it’s a familial obligation!”

Negroni

Negroni

1 oz gin
1 oz Campari
1 oz sweet vermouth

Build over ice in a rocks glass.

THREE — “Not at all,” replied Umberto. “I await a business associate to discuss a venture whose outcome is far from certain. Look at this…” He placed a diagram on the bar top.

Aviation

Aviation

2 oz gin
½ oz Maraschino
½ oz lemon juice
1 tsp crème de violette

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

TWO — “Let me guess,” said Verne, wiping dry a glass that had only recently held as its contents a delicious black stout as he eyed Umberto with a mixture of pity and good cheer, “Lady trouble?”

Red Hook

Red Hook

2 oz rye whiskey
½ oz Punt e Mes
½ oz Maraschino

Stir with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

ONE — Umberto deliberated at the bar, wanting to delay, to drag it out, to avoid the inevitable exchange that would take place upon her arrival. In an effort to appear aloof he ordered a Red Hook, and while he watched the bartender stir his drink he quietly shredded a cocktail napkin between his talons.