Wednesday
Oct142009
Dictionary Word of the Day: Pukka
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 06:34AM pukka
\PUHK-uh\ , adjective:
1.
Authentic; genuine.
2.
Superior; first-class.
Origin:
Pukka comes from Hindi pakka, "cooked, ripe," from Sanskrit pakva-, from pacati, "he cooks."
This one is new to me. I doubt I'll ever remember this word, let alone use it. To me, it just doesn't seem to match with its meaning.
"Although the definition of this word is doubtlessly pukka, I sincerely doubt its usefulness in day to day conversation."
Reader Comments (2)
I agree - not likely to be useful in everyday conversation!! Interesting word, though. For some reason, it made me think of Rudyard Kipling.... :)
Don't forget Pooka: poo·ka n. A mischievous spirit in Irish folklore. [Irish púca, from Old Irish, probably from Old English pca, goblin. --Free Online Dictionary] Wonderfully defined in the play Harvey (Harvey, the 6-foot-tall invisible white rabbit, is a pooka): " . . . it is easy to question his existence until he "speaks" to Wilson, an orderly at the Chumley's Rest sanitarium, as he is reading in the encyclopedia, "'Pooka. From old Celtic mythology. A fairy spirit in animal form. The pooka appears here and there, now and then, to this one and that one at his own caprice. A wise but mischievous creature. Very fond of rum-pots, crack pots; and how are you, Mr. Wilson.' How are you, Mr. Wilson? Who in the encyclopedia wants to know?" (From http://www.bard.org/Education/studyguides/harvey/harveyalmost.html)