Additions to the UMN Dictionary
You won’t be able to stop using these new vocab words!
By Max Pritchard with art by Brooke Lambrecht
The Minnesota Modern Dictionary is proud to present the long-awaited addition of words for common University of Minnesota phenomena that have no single-word equivalence in the English Language.
Rest assured that these words have not sprung up out of nowhere, but rather the definitions have been assigned to the names of towns throughout Minnesota that could frankly benefit from having a little more to do.
Backus (n.) : The inevitable collision resulting from two Campus Tour Leaders walking backwards directly towards each others’ groups down the same sidewalk.
Bloomington (n.) : (measure) How often one enters their Internet ID and Password each week, all while slowly losing their mind. “How often every single month do I type those exact same phrases? A bloomington.”
Blomkest (n.) : The romantic tension between Goldy the Gopher and other Big 10 mascots.
Breezy-Point (adj.) : Showing an innate ability to spend two minutes answering a discussion question without saying anything of substance. “Jimmy’s seminar was spoiled by a very breezy-point speaker.”
Funkley (adv.) : To go about one’s work in a state of funk; commonly associated with the three-week period between Thanksgiving and the holiday break.
Goodhue (n.) : The beautiful purple-red color of the sky on those days when you think that living in the Midwest might not be all that bad.
Hibbing (ptcpl. vb.) : Avoiding eye contact with someone you befriended during welcome week and haven't spoken to since.
Payneville (n.) : When you make a public transport error and accidentally ship yourself to St. Paul.
Taconite (n.) : (religious) A member of a sect whose primary mode of worship is braving the freezing winters with as little protection as possible; often seen strutting through blizzards in a pair of shorts.
That's all for now–we look forward to hearing these terms filter into everyday lexicon!
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Inspiration/source of town names: