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…
Nicknames of Other Places
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…
Wind City, USA (Roscoe nickname)
The city of Roscoe in Nolan County has been called "Wind City, USA" unofficially since 2007. Wind energy farms began construction in Roscoe -- one of the biggest wind projects in the…
Wind Energy Capital of Texas (McCamey nickname)
McCamey used to be an oil town, but, in the 1990s, it transformed as a wind energy town. In 2001, the Texas legislature declared McCamey to be the Wind Energy Capital of Texas. Wikipedia: McCamey,…
Windham: Gem of the Catskills (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Windham (town), New YorkWindham is a town in Greene County, New York, United States. The population was 1,703 at the 2010 census. The town was probably named…
Windham: Land in the Sky (nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Windham (town), New YorkWindham is a town in Greene County, New York, United States. The population was 1,703 at the 2010 census. The town was probably named…
Windmill Dunk (basketball shot)
A "windmill" slam dunk in basketball is when a player's arm acts like a windmill in sending the ball through the basket. "Windmill" dunk has been cited in print since at…
Window Dressing
Financial "window dressing" occurs when money managers try to improve their performance at the end of a quarter or year, so that financial statements look better. Some "window…
Window-shopping
Store window displays are often elaborate and are intended to attract the attention of people on the sidewalk. "Window Shopping" has been cited in print since at least 1875, when it…
Windsor Stew
Windsor stew was never a popular Texas stew, but the following citation is worth recording. Tales From The Manchaca HillsThe unvarnished memoirs of a Texas Gentlewoman, Mrs. Edna Turley Carpenteras…
Windy Apple (summary)
The popular animated television show The Simpsons coined the nickname "Windy Apple" for the fictional Capital City. "Windy Apple" is, of course, a blend of "the Big…