Word of the day: crepuscular
It means an animal that is active in twilight (as opposed to nocturnal or diurnal). I ran across it in an article about weasels (which are mostly crepuscular, unless they get the wicked munchies). Crepuscular can be further divided into matinal and vespertine — active at dawn or dusk. Derived, I assume, from the morning and evening prayers matins and vespers.
Animals can change their time orientation in response to local threats (such as the presence or absence of certain predators). I assume living on the edges of human civilization tends to push animals toward being nocturnal or crepuscular. At least, in my own experience hiking suburban conservation lands, I am far more likely to see animals when I go out very early or stay out late.
Posted: March 29th, 2007 under animals, personal, words.
Comments: 14
Comments
Comment from Enas Yorl
Time: March 29, 2007, 1:53 pm
Crepuscular is a good Edgar Allen Poe vocabulary word. He liked to use it. He also invented the word “fantastic” but that’s no nevermind. How do you like crepuscular rays?
Comment from S. Weasel
Time: March 29, 2007, 2:18 pm
Neat! I didn’t know that’s what those were called!
I invented the word “smoo.” Unfortunately, it hasn’t proved to be very useful.
Comment from Steamboat McGoo
Time: March 29, 2007, 2:30 pm
Smoo?
I’ll use it if you’ll define it. I will find a way!
Comment from Enas Yorl
Time: March 29, 2007, 2:32 pm
Yah, I didn’t know what they were called until fairly recently either.
“Smoo” eh? What’s “Smoo”?
Nuthin’ much – what’s smoo with you?
Comment from Steamboat McGoo
Time: March 29, 2007, 2:35 pm
If you need a suggestion on the definition of “smoo”, how ’bout:
Smoo: (noun) – The closed-in area of a typed letter, e.g. the letter “O” has a big white dot in the middle surrounded by the dark letter outline. The letter “T” has no smoo.
Comment from S. Weasel
Time: March 29, 2007, 2:37 pm
It doesn’t really have a definition. That’s probably where I went wrong. It’s one of those words, like Smurfy, that you can toss out any time you get stuck. Like “smoo happens” and “At first, I wasn’t sure I liked it, but then I thought…smoo.”
It’s largely been replaced in the Weasel household with “weasels.” You know, “I meant to take the garbage out, but…weasels.”
Comment from S. Weasel
Time: March 29, 2007, 4:24 pm
Ohmigod!!! It has a song!!!! And it’s sung by robot voices!!!!!!!
Ohm Ma-hat-ma Smoo. Ohm Ma-hat-ma Na-Ma. Ohm Ma-hat-ma Na-ma Smoo Ohm.
Boo, I didn’t even invent my own not very useful word. But I have a new mantra!
Comment from Steamboat McGoo
Time: March 29, 2007, 6:04 pm
You reminded me of:
“Ohm-my! EE is current-ly a re-volt-ing subject.”
(Found inked on a classroom desk at the old alma-mater many moons ago.)
Two! Four! Six! Smoo!
Can’t be worse than Weasel poo!
Comment from S. Weasel
Time: March 29, 2007, 6:13 pm
I fixed yer typo, McGoo. So you don’t look like so much of a maroon.
Comment from Steamboat McGoo
Time: March 29, 2007, 6:57 pm
Thanks – but it won’t help.
I is what I is. A smoo maroon.
Comment from geoff
Time: March 30, 2007, 4:35 pm
Crepusculars are craptacular!
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