Wichitan (inhabitant of Wichita Falls)
"Wichitan” is the name of an inhabitant of Wichita Falls, Texas. The name “Wichitan" has been cited in print since at least 1910. Wikipedia: Wichita Falls, TexasWichita Falls is a…
Time/Weather
Wicked Hot Chocolate & Wicked Fun Bonbons
Jacques Torres was the pastry chef at Le Cirque. In December 2000, he opened a chocolate factory in Brooklyn, and in the fall of 2004 he opened another one at King Street and Hudson Street in…
Widget (New York World Journal Tribune)
The "Widget" was the short-lived New York World Journal Tribune. It marked the sad end of many once-proud New York City newspapers.…
Widow-and-Orphan Stock (Widows’-and-Orphans’ Stock)
A "widow-and-orphan stock" (or "widows'-and-orphans' stock") is a well-known, low-risk stock that pays high dividends. Widows and orphans have long been thought to be…
Widows and Orphans (newspaper terminology)
"Widows" and "orphans" are words (or short lines) at the beginning or end of a paragraph that appear at the top or the bottom of a column or page. The term "widow"…
Wiener (or Weiner; Wienie; Weenie; Wiener Wurst; Wienerwurst; Vienna Sausage)
Vienna, Austria became popular for its sausages, which were called "Vienna sausages" or "wieners" (after "wien," the German for "Vienna"). Some forms include…
Wiener Wednesday (Weiner Wednesday)
"Wiener Wednesday" (also often spelled as "Weiner Wednesday") is a day when hot dogs ("wieners") are sold by an establishment, often at a reduced price. "Wiener…
WiFry (WiFi + fry); WhyFry (WiFi + why + fry)
"Wi-Fi" is a wireless networking technology. Many people people that Wi-Fi radiation is dangerous and have dubbed it "WiFry" (Wi-Fry) or "WhyFry" (Why-Fry). "Its…
Wigstock
"Wigstock" is an annual drag festival. http://www.wigstock.nu/history/history.htmlHISTORY OF WIGSTOCK Late one night in the spring of '84 a drunken group of friends, seeking more…
Wild and Woolly
"Wild and woolly" (often spelled "wild and wooly," but almost never in the reverse as "woolly and wild") often describes an animal, but was used to describe cowboys…
Wild Art (photo unaccompanied by a story)
"Wild art" is a photo unaccompanied by a news story. For example, a photo of the first snowfall of the year can be newsworthy, but usually doesn't require a news story. The term…
Wild West (Wild Wild West)
"Wild West" (often written as "wild west" and "wild West") has been a popular nickname for the far west region of America since at least 1823. The term was so common…
Wildcat Bank (Wildcat Money)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wildcat banking refers to the unusual practices of banks chartered under state law during the periods of non-federally regulated state banking between 1816 and 1863 in the…
Wilding (“Central Park Jogger” incident)
In April 1989, a woman was assaulted and raped while she was jogging in Central Park. The press quickly referred to the victim as the "Central Park Jogger" and to the incident with a new…
Will Install Needless Data On Whole System 〈Microsoft “Windows” backronym〉
Microsoft Windows (or simply "Windows") is an operating system developed and sold by Microsoft. "Windows" has had many backronyms (back acronyms). "Will Install Needless…
William (“bill” at a fancy restaurant)
A joke has it that a fancy restaurant doesn't give you a "bill," it gives you a "william." "At the end of meals in formal restaurants remember to ask for the William.…
Williamsburg Jazz Festival
The annual Williamsburg Jazz Festival was first organized in 2001. The September 10-17, 2006 Fourth Annual Williamsburg Jazz Festival provides a week's worth of events. Williamsburg Jazz…
Williamsburger (inhabitant of Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
"Williamsburger” is the name of an inhabitant of Williamsburg, in the borough of Brooklyn. The name “Williamsburger” has been cited in print since at least 1860. Wikipedia: Williamsburg,…
WillyB, Billyburg, Billburg, B-burg (Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
A hip new place must have hip new names. Silly names, perhaps, but new nonetheless. "Willy B" or "WillyB" or "WB" is Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It's also used for…
Wimberleyite (inhabitant of Wimberley)
"Wimberleyite” is the name of an inhabitant of Wimberley, Texas. The name “Wimberleyite” has been cited in print since at least 1963, when "Wimberleyite" was used several times…