Selkirk Hurdle
The "Selkirk hurdle" describes the route that freight trains must travel to enter New York City. There is no freight crossing across the Hudson River into New York City, so trains must…
Holidays/Events/Parades
Sellabration (sell + celebration)
A "sellabration" or "sell-a-bration" (sell + celebration) is an event that retailers often hold featuring discounted products. "Sell-abration" has been cited in print…
Sellathon (sell + marathon)
A "sellathon" or "sell-a-thon" (sell + marathon) is an event that retailers often hold featuring discounted products. "Sellathon" has been cited in print since at…
Selmelier (salt expert)
A "selmelier" is a salt expert, similar to a "sommelier" (wine steward). The word "selmelier" was coined since at least July 2006 by Mike Bitterman, the selmelier at…
Seminar Caller
The term "seminar caller" was coined by conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh by at least July 1996. A "seminar caller" makes an "astroturfed" call to a…
Semita (Cemita)
Entry still in progress. Any speculation about the etymology (from "Semite" or "seed"?) will be appreciated. Wikipedia: Cemita MexicoThere are several kinds of cemitas in…
Senate Bean Soup
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Common beanWhite beansThe small, white navy bean, also called pea bean or haricot, is particularly popular in Britain and the US, featured in such dishes as…
Senegalese Soup
"Senegalese soup" has been served at New York's "21" Club for many years, but the origin of the soup and its name are unclear. Senegalese soup has been called "cold…
Senior Citizen
"Senior Citizen" was essentially coined in California in the late 1930s. The pensions for "senior citizens" became a political issue on the west coast in 1937 and 1938.…
Senior Slump
The "senior slump" is the time near the end of the academic period for a high school or college senior where the student's academic interest often lags. The high school senior might…
Senioritis
"Senioritis" (senior + -itis) is a jocular "disease" that affects many high school and college seniors. The "disease" causes the senior student to use less effort in…
Señorita Special (Señorita Plate; Señorita Platter)
The "Señorita Special" (also called "Señorita Plate" and "Señorita Platter") is a Mexican combination plate, still served in old-time Tex-Mex restaurants and…
Sept-taper or Septaper (September + taper)
The stock market had all eyes on the Federal Reserve in 2013, speculating when its quantitative easing program -- involving as much as $85 billion a month -- would lessen or "taper." The…
Septagon (seven-sided bathroom in Central Park’s Arsenal)
The Arsenal building in Central Park is now used by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. The Arsenal has a seven-sided bathroom that has been dubbed the "Septagon"…
Sequesteria (sequester + hysteria)
"Sequesteria" (sequester + hysteria) is a term that was popularized by conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh in February 2013. Budget sequestration in the Budget Control Act of…
Sequestrocalypse (sequester + apocalypse)
News reports frequently told of apocalyptic budget cuts resulting from the 2013 U.S. federal budget sequestration. Conservative blogs popularized the term "sequestrocalypse" (sequester +…
Sermon on the Mound (Pope delivering Mass at Yankee Stadium)
Pope Paul VI gave Mass at Yankee Stadium in October 1965. It was quickly called the "Sermon on the Mound" -- a linguistic borrowing from the "Sermon on the Mount." Pope John…
Sesame Seed Bun (hamburger bun)
The term "hamburger bun" has been cited in print since at least 1902. Seeded bread has long been popular, and seeded hamburger buns add to the flavor and texture. "HAMBURGER Served…
Setters (Pace University teams)
Pace University has a campus on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge, although the athletic teams are mostly from Pace's Westchester campus. The team nickname is the Pace Setters. Too bad…
Seven Crazy Hours Of Our Lives or Seven Crappy Hours Of Our Lives (“school” backronym)
S.C.H.O.O.L = Six Crazy Hours Of Our Lives and S.C.H.O.O.L.E.D = Six Crazy Hours OF Our Lives Each Day and S.C.H.O.O.L - Six.Crap.Hours.Of.Our.Lives and S.C.H.O.O.L = Six Crappy Hours Of Our Lives…