RUNCIBLE

Wild Word Friday!

This summer when I was reading some poems to my youngest granddaughter, we came across that old favorite The Owl and the Pussy Cat. You probably remember that “The owl and the pussy cat went to sea/in a beautiful pea-green boat”, and that “they took some honey and plenty of money/ wrapped up in a five-pound note.” 

Some time later in that same poem “They dined on mince, and slices of quince/which they ate with a RUNCIBLE spoon.”

I don’t know how many times I’ve read that poem to the children in my life. Many anyway. And every time I pause and say (at least in my head), “What the heck is a RUNCIBLE spoon?” 

This time I finally pulled out the dictionary. I found that RUNCIBLE is a word which the author, E. Lear, made up specifically for the poem. Evidently, Poet Lear pulled a new adjective, RUNCIBLE, out of an old adjective, runcinate,which refers to a saw-toothed edge.

Now, in the 21st Century in the midst of our fast-food culture, we call a RUNCIBLE spoon a spork. A spork? That’s the best we can do? With all our knowledge and education and computerized efficacy? A spork?

The next time I buzz through a fast-food place, I think I’m going to ask for a RUNCIBLE spoon.

How about you? Are you a spork person or are you inclined toward the RUNCIBLE?

Blessings!

Sue