Dear Word Detective: What is the Italian or Yiddish word for heartburn? I grew up hearing my parents saying "argada," but since I've moved to the South no one seems to believe it's actually a word. Help! -- Kelly, via the internet.

Tell me about it. Ever since I moved to rural Ohio from New York City a few years ago, I've been getting funny looks from people whenever I use standard New-Yorkisms such as "go figure" or "fugeddaboudit." Of course, they also think "bialy" is a breed of dog, so I guess it's hopeless.

In any case, the word your parents were using was almost certainly "agita." You won't find "agita" in most dictionaries, although it is a quintessential Italian-American slang word. Strictly speaking, "agita" is a stomach upset or heartburn. But "agita" can also mean that special kind of existential dyspepsia of the soul you get when absolutely everything goes wrong. Comedian Jackie Mason has explained "agita" as "when you have been aggravated to the point where it feels like you have a serious migraine headache throughout your whole body." "Agita" is thus more or less the Italian-American equivalent of the Yiddish "tsuris" ("misery"), an equation not lost on Woody Allen, who made a song about "agita" the centerpiece of his 1984 film "Broadway Danny Rose."

"Agita" is not a standard Italian word, and linguists are not certain where came from. One possible source is the Italian word "agitare" ("to agitate" or "to trouble"), which in turn came from the Latin "agitare," which meant "to stir up." To be "agitato" in Italy is to be very excited, and a musical score marked "agitato" is intended to be played at a frenzied pace. But it's also possible that the source is "acido" (pronounced "AH-chee-do"), Italian for "stomach acid," which then possibly became "agita" ("AH-jih-ta") over time. Whatever the source, "agita" seems to have arrived in New York with Italian immigrants around the turn of the century, and has been in constant use, especially in places like New York City, ever since.

I also say "excuse me" and "could you move over" as I roll my eyes and then sit

I do this too. Of course, I have the added perk of giant fluffy petticoats and Looking Eccentric, so people on the bus usually make room for me very quickly.

Italian or Yiddish

I love this.

Of course, I grew up figuring that "Oy vey" was French, because it was my Memere I heard saying it.

On a completely different note (sort of), do people use the word "agita"?

I use it all the time!

I've never used the public transit here, despite living right by a station. It just doesn't go sensibly near where I'm going.

Public transit here is pretty stupid. People (at old job who didn't know b'more) were asking if I would be taking it to work and I had to explain how maybe there was a bus that went this way but otherwise I'd have to take light rail and a water taxi and it would take a good long time and cost quite a bit of money.

I will try to bike here sometime soon though.

The problem with talking to people is that sometimes they talk back. I'd much prefer a shoving match.

I saw a really scary shoving match the other day -- scary because it was on the stairs. Somehow the guy going down didn't completely wipe out.

Agita is a very useful word - I don't really use it, but I'm familiar with it.

I could write volumes on heinous behavior on public transit. The guys - and it is usually a man - who insist on taking up more than one seat. Last weekend I tried to sit next to a man who was aggravated that I was expecting him to content himself with two seats rather than three. The ones who take up two seats and most of the aisle to stretch their legs. The people - all ages, genders, who will occupy the preferential seating and refuse to let elderly people or those with an obvious physical problem sit there. The worst I saw was a woman who insisted on standing right at the front and refused to move, even when she was blocking a man in a wheelchair who wanted to get out. bleah. We also get tourons ... lots and lots of them, many of whom seem to have never: ridden on any kind of public transit; been in a city; used an escalator; crossed a busy street. argh.

Public transit here is pretty stupid.

Yup. It's too bad, though, that it doesn't make sense to have a water taxi ride in your commute. That'd be neat! Well, except in gusty weather.

I use agita, but ISTR Bob asking me what it meant recently. So I guess I don't use it enough.

I hate riding the Red Line past Wrigley if it's before or after a Cubs game. Lots of people who never take public transit, who won't move to the center of the train so others can get on. And they're often drunk. I recall the loud shriek and laughter of the drunk woman who was leaning against the doors when they opened....