Spinning Cookies (Rebroadcast) - 5 October 2026
Summary
This episode of A Way With Words explores regional dialects and linguistic quirks, including the Southern phrase "be particular" and the Maritime "pulmonic ingressive." The hosts discuss the origins of "Cooter Brown" and the evolution of the word "toboggan" from sled to hat. A quiz segment covers homographs like "axes" and "bows," while listener calls share stories about "cutting donuts," the Australian term "bagsy," and the Alaskan creature "kushtaka." The show also highlights the book *The Public Library* and shares a hopeful letter from E.B. White.
Topics discussed
Gatorade Zero advertisement
Book recommendation and the value of librarians
Regional terms for spinning tires: cutting donuts vs. cookies
The Southern expression 'be particular' and its origins
Listener stories on names: Chevalier and Goodnight
Gatorade Zero advertisement
Homographs quiz: words spelled the same, pronounced differently
Maritime regionalisms and the 'pulmonic aggressive'
Childhood misunderstanding: 'honey bird' for hummingbird
Origin of the phrase 'drunk as Cooter Brown'
Toboggan vs. toque: regional names for hats and sleds
Gatorade Zero advertisement
E.B. White's letter on hope and steadfastness
The meaning of 'bags not' from the show Bluey
Lowercase poetry and E.E. Cummings
Kushtaka: Native Pacific Northwest folklore and land otters
The etymology and usage of the word 'faff'
Show credits and closing remarks
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