Spaghetti and Meatballs (Meatballs and Spaghetti)
"Spaghetti and meatballs" (or "meatballs and spaghetti," with the two-word "meat balls" as the earlier form) is a popular Italian dish -- or is it Italian? It's…
Spaghetti Bollock-Knees (Spaghetti Bolognese)
"Spaghetti Bollock-Knees" is a jocular way to say "Spaghetti Bolognese." "#cannibalmenu spaghetti bollock-knees" was posted on Twitter on February 20, 2010. "On…
Spaghetti Eating Shirt
Many people have what they call a "spaghetti eating shirt," to be worn while the user is eating spaghetti. When the spaghetti sauce gets on the shirt (as expected), it's not as bad…
Spaghetti Parm (Spaghetti Parmesan; Spaghetti Parmigiana)
"Italienne Spaghetti, Parmesan Cheese ... 15c." was printed in the Boston (MA) Sunday Globe on April 20, 1890. "Spaghetti Parmesan" was printed in the San Francisco (CA)…
Spaghetti Tetrazzini
Luisa Tetrazzini (1871-1940) was an Italian lyric coloratura soprano who had an enormous popularity in America from the 1900s-1920s. Several dishes were named after her, including: . Turkey…
Spailout (Spain/Spanish + bailout)
Spain requested a financial bailout from the Eurozone in 2012. CNBC popularized the name "Spailout" (Spain/Spanish + bailout) in news articles on June 10th and 11th, 2012. Twitter use of…
Spaldeen (Spalding High-Bounce Ball)
"Spaldeen" is the New York City name for the Spalding High-Bounce Ball, first manufactured in 1949. Spaldeens were used in many street games, such as stickball, punchball, stoop ball, and…
Spandering (Spanish-speaker pandering)
"Spandering" (Spanish + pandering) occurs when a someone (such as a politician) panders to a Spanish-speaking constituency. The politician might produce election literature half in…
Spankees or Wankees (NY Yankees derogatory nicknames)
Non-fans of the New York Yankees baseball team have sometimes called them the "Spankees" (a team that's "spanked") or "Wankees" (from "wanker"). Google…
Spankopedia (jocular spelling of “spanakopita”)
"Spanakopita" is a Greek spinach-cheese pie. It's an unusual name, and is sometimes jocularly spelled "spankopedia" (like "spank" and "Wikipedia"). Some…
Speakeasy (Speak-easy)
The "speakeasy" (also written as "speak-easy" and "speak easy") began in the United States in 1889 in Pennsylvania and referred to an unlicensed saloon. The customers…
Speakstakes (Speaker + sweepstakes)
A "Veepstakes" (Veep + sweepstakes) is a race for vice president. A "Speakstakes" (Speaker + sweepstakes) is a race for a Speaker position, such as the Speaker of the House of…
Speckenwolf Pizza (Specken Wolf Pizza)
Roberta's restaurant, at 261 Moore Street, Bushwick, Brooklyn, opened in 2008. One popular pizza has been "Specken Wolf" or "Speckenwolf" -- mozzarella, oregano, onion,…
Specuvestor (speculator + investor)
The term "specuvestor" (speculator + investor) was coined by Lewis Owen's book, How Wall Street Doubles My Money Every Three Years (1969). An advertisement for the book explained,…
Speed Bump
Entry in progress -- B.P.sleeping policeman Wikipedia: Speed bumpA speed bump, speed hump or ramp
Spellebrity (spelling bee + celebrity)
"Spellebrity" ("spelling bee" + celebrity) refers to a notable contestant in a spelling bee, such as the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The E.W. Scripps Company trademarked…
Spelling Bee (Spelling Match)
Entry in progress -- B.P. [This entry was prepared with the research assistance of Ben Zimmer,] Wikipedia: Spelling beeA spelling bee is a competition in which contestants are asked to spell words.…
Spendaholic (spend + -aholic)
'Spendaholic" (spend + -aholic) is someone who has the disease of excess spending, much like an acoholic has with alcohol. The term "spendaholic" has been cited in print since…
Spexit (Spain/Spanish + exit)
"Spexit” (Spain/Spanish + exit) is a word created to define a possible Spanish exit from the eurozone. "Spexit" has been cited in print since at least May 2012. "Grexit"…
Sphinx of Wall Street
A sphinx is a mythical creature with the head of a person and the body (usually) of a lion; the famous Egyptian sphinx is known for the "riddle of the sphinx." A person described as a…